紊 (wěn) - disorder, confusion, chaos & to be in a state of disarray or

紊Tone 3

wěn ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

万响

紊 · wěn

disorder, confusion, chaos;

to be in a state of disarray or tangled mess.

disorder, confusion, chaosto be in a state of disarray or

Usage highlights

disorderlychaotictangled threadsdisordered stateconfused and disorderlydisorderly lines

Synonyms

  • 乱— chaos, disorder
  • 杂— mixed, miscellaneous
  • 混— mixed, confused

Antonyms

  • 序— order, sequence
  • 整— neat, orderly
  • 齐— tidy, uniform

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The documents were in complete disorder (文件紊乱).
  • Her thoughts were tangled and confused (思绪紊乱).
  • The market was in chaos (市场紊乱).
  • He suffered from sleep rhythm disorder (睡眠节律紊乱).

Collocations

  • disorderly(紊乱)
  • chaotic(紊流)
  • tangled threads(紊丝)
  • disordered state(紊态)
  • confused and disorderly(紊杂)
  • disorderly lines(紊线)

Idioms

  • In perfect order without any confusion(有条不紊)
  • Orderly and systematic(井然不紊)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character combines 'wen' (文, pattern/culture) and 'si' (糸, silk/thread), suggesting tangled threads disrupting orderly patterns.
  • In traditional Chinese thought, order and harmony are highly valued, making 'disorder' a negative concept.
  • Used in both literal (tangled threads) and metaphorical (chaotic situations) contexts throughout Chinese history.

FAQ