荡 (dàng) - to swing & to sway

荡Tone 4

dàng ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical: 艹

橙丁

荡 · dàng

to swing;

to sway;

to wander;

to rinse;

to wash away;

to dissipate;

to clear away;

to be dissolute;

vast;

broad

to swingto swayto wander

Usage highlights

to swingto wanderto rinseto dissipatebroad and vastdissolute

Synonyms

  • 摇— to shake, to rock
  • 摆— to swing, to oscillate
  • 洗— to wash, to rinse
  • 游— to wander, to roam

Antonyms

  • 静— still, motionless
  • 定— fixed, stable
  • 稳— steady, firm

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The boat rocked on the waves (小船在波浪中荡漾).
  • He wandered around the city (他在城市里游荡).
  • Rinse the vegetables with clean water (用清水把菜荡一荡).
  • The wind swept away the dark clouds (风吹荡了乌云).

Collocations

  • to swing(荡秋千)
  • to wander(游荡)
  • to rinse(荡涤)
  • to dissipate(荡然无存)
  • broad and vast(浩荡)
  • dissolute(放荡)

Idioms

  • Completely swept away, leaving nothing behind(荡然无存)
  • Wandering aimlessly(荡来荡去)
  • To indulge in pleasure without restraint(放荡不羁)
  • Magnificent and imposing(浩浩荡荡)
  • To wipe out completely(倾家荡产)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted water ripples or waves, conveying motion and fluidity.
  • In Confucian context, can imply moral dissipation when used as 放荡.
  • Used in military context to describe sweeping campaigns as in 扫荡.

FAQ