浪 (làng) - wave & billow

浪Tone 4

làng ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

浪 · làng

wave;

billow;

unrestrained;

wasteful;

dissolute;

wander

wavebillowunrestrained

Usage highlights

waveromanticwaste timevagrantwave peakbillow

Synonyms

  • 波— wave (more general term)
  • 涛— great wave, billow

Antonyms

  • 节— thrifty, economical
  • 俭— frugal, economical

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The waves crash against the shore (海浪拍岸).
  • He is a romantic poet (浪漫的诗人).
  • Don't waste your time (不要浪费时间).
  • She loves to travel (她喜欢流浪).

Collocations

  • wave(波浪)
  • romantic(浪漫)
  • waste time(浪费时间)
  • vagrant(流浪汉)
  • wave peak(浪峰)
  • billow(浪涛)

Idioms

  • Waves upon waves(后浪推前浪)
  • Brave the wind and the waves(乘风破浪)
  • Waves rough and wind violent(风急浪高)
  • Wasteful and dissolute(放浪形骸)
  • Drift along(随波逐浪)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese poetry, 'wave' often symbolizes the passage of time or life's uncertainties.
  • The character carries both positive connotations (romance, freedom) and negative ones (wastefulness, recklessness).
  • In modern usage, 浪漫 (romantic) is a very common and positive association.
  • The phrase '后浪推前浪' metaphorically describes younger generations surpassing older ones.

FAQ