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March 24, 2026
浪làng(lang4)
The character 浪 (làng) primarily means 'wave' and can refer to ocean waves or metaphorical waves of emotion or behavior. It also carries connotations of being unrestrained or reckless, often used in contexts that describe wasteful or dissipated actions, such as 'wasting time' or 'living a carefree life.'
Strokes10Radical氵Frequency#4412DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of waves (浪) can symbolize both the beauty of nature and the tumultuousness of life. The term is often used in poetry and literature to evoke feelings of nostalgia or the fleeting nature of time.
Memory Tip
Imagine a big, crashing wave (浪) at the beach. The wave is so powerful that it sweeps everything away, representing a sense of being unrestrained or reckless. The sound 'làng' can remind you of 'long' waves that stretch across the ocean, emphasizing their vastness and dynamism.
Meanings of 浪
làng(lang4)
1wave
2breaker
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 浪
浪Simplified
10Strokes
氵Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4412Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 浪
Podcast: 浪
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AI Study Notes for 浪
Quick Contrast
波 (bō) vs 浪 (làng): Use 浪 when emphasizing the unrestrained or reckless aspect of waves, while 波 refers specifically to the physical wave itself.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a big, crashing wave (浪) at the beach. The wave is so powerful that it sweeps everything away, representing a sense of being unrestrained or reckless. The sound 'làng' can remind you of 'long' waves that stretch across the ocean, emphasizing their vastness and dynamism.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 浪 with similar-sounding words, so it's important to pay attention to context. It is generally used in informal settings, especially when describing behavior or lifestyle. Be cautious of using it in formal contexts, as it may come across as too casual.
HSK Study Tips
While 浪 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to higher-level vocabulary related to nature and behavior. Students should focus on its usage in idiomatic expressions and phrases to deepen their understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of waves (浪) can symbolize both the beauty of nature and the tumultuousness of life. The term is often used in poetry and literature to evoke feelings of nostalgia or the fleeting nature of time.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 浪 with similar characters like 朗 (lǎng), which means 'bright' or 'clear.' For example, saying 浪天 (làng tiān) instead of 朗天 (lǎng tiān) to mean 'clear sky' would be incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 浪
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Grammar Patterns of 浪
浪 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
The seas grew turbulent, tossing the small boat like a cork.
Cultural Notes for 浪
💡Did you know?
在中国文化中，海浪常常被用来象征生命的起伏和变化。古代诗人常常用海浪来比喻人生的艰难与美好。
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of waves (浪) can symbolize both the beauty of nature and the tumultuousness of life. The term is often used in poetry and literature to evoke feelings of nostalgia or the fleeting nature of time.
Word Family of 浪
Compounds1
蒗lang4an herb; a place name
Words Containing This Character20
浪费làngfèito waste浪費
新浪Sina, Chinese web portal and online media company
浪漫làngmànromantic
浪làngwave
冲浪chōnglàngto surf衝浪
流浪liúlàngto wander
流浪汉tramp流浪漢
浪潮wave
海浪hǎilàngsea wave
流浪者rover
波浪bōlàngwave
浪子loafer
鼓浪屿Gulangyu, scenic island off Xiamen 廈門|厦门[Xiàmén]鼓浪嶼
热浪heat wave熱浪
风浪fēnglàngwind and waves風浪
浪花spray
浪荡to loiter浪蕩
浪漫主义romanticism浪漫主義
风平浪静all is quiet風平浪靜
浪头wave浪頭
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 蒗 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 浪
浪 (làng) and 波 (bō) both refer to waves, but 浪 is generally used for larger ocean waves or breakers, while 波 is used for smaller waves or ripples, like those seen in a pond. Understanding this distinction can help in more accurately describing different types of water movement.
浪 (làng) is often featured in idiomatic expressions like '浪费时间' (làng fèi shíjiān), which means 'to waste time.' This shows how the character can convey notions of being unrestrained or excessive in various contexts.
浪 (làng) primarily means 'wave' or 'breaker' in Chinese, often associated with water. It can also refer to being unrestrained or dissipated in a more abstract sense, such as in the context of a lifestyle or behavior.
You can use 浪 (làng) in sentences like '海浪很大' (hǎi làng hěn dà), which means 'The waves at sea are very big.' It can also be used metaphorically, for example, '他过着浪费的生活' (tā guòzhe làngfèi de shēnghuó) meaning 'He lives a dissipated life.'
Common phrases include 浪费时间 (waste time) and 浪荡 (to be unrestrained or carefree).
No, it can also describe emotional waves or reckless behavior.
