Learn a Chinese Character - 乱

1. Character Basics

Radical: 乙 (yǐ, second of the ten Heavenly Stems radical)

Stroke Count: 7

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: luàn (Fourth tone)

3. Meaning

Chaos, disorder, messy, confused

4. Common Words

• 混乱 (hùnluàn) - chaos, confusion
• 打乱 (dǎluàn) - to disrupt, to upset
• 乱七八糟 (luànqībāzāo) - in a mess, chaotic
• 叛乱 (pànluàn) - rebellion, revolt
• 动乱 (dòngluàn) - unrest, upheaval
• 乱世 (luànshì) - troubled times, chaotic era
• 扰乱 (rǎoluàn) - to disturb, to disrupt

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "乱" is primarily used as an adjective or verb meaning chaos, disorder, or messy. It can be used in several ways:

1. As an adjective:
- 房间很混乱。 (Fángjiān hěn hùnluàn.) - The room is very messy.
- 交通混乱。 (Jiāotōng hùnluàn.) - The traffic is chaotic.

2. As a verb:
- 不要打乱秩序。 (Bùyào dǎluàn zhìxù.) - Don't disrupt the order.
- 他的话扰乱了我的思路。 (Tā de huà rǎoluàn le wǒ de sīlù.) - His words disturbed my thinking.

3. In idioms and proverbs:
- 乱世出英雄 (luànshì chū yīngxióng) - Heroes emerge in troubled times
- 以乱治乱 (yǐ luàn zhì luàn) - To use chaos to control chaos

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the concept of "乱" (luàn, chaos) has deep historical and philosophical roots. Throughout Chinese history, periods of chaos and unrest have alternated with periods of order and stability, often described as the "dynastic cycle." Philosophically, many Chinese thinkers, including Confucius and Laozi, have written about the importance of maintaining harmony and order to avoid chaos. In literature and art, depictions of chaos often serve as a contrast to the ideal of balance and harmony. Additionally, the character "乱" appears in many idioms and proverbs that reflect Chinese cultural attitudes towards order, stability, and the consequences of chaos.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "乱" can be remembered by breaking it down into its components. The top part contains "舌" (shé, tongue) and some strokes that look like tangled or disordered lines. The bottom part is "乙" (yǐ). You can think of the character as representing a "tongue causing disorder" or "tangled speech," which can help you remember that "乱" means chaos or disorder. Alternatively, visualize the strokes as representing things that are messy or tangled.