沌

dùn

屯 + 氵

Definitions

dùn used in 混沌[hùn dùn]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 屯 represents the sound.

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 屯

About

沌 (dùn) is a phono-semantic character: the left side is the semantic radical 氵 (a compressed form of 水 'water'), indicating a link to liquids; the right side is the phonetic component 屯 (tún), which supplies the sound. In early texts, the character was used to describe water that was muddy, swirling, and directionless. This image of disordered fluidity gradually evolved from a concrete physical description to an abstract philosophical concept. It is now most commonly encountered in the compound 混沌 (hùndùn), which refers to the primordial state of chaos, undifferentiated confusion, and lack of order.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的头脑一片混沌。

Wǒ de tóunǎo yīpiàn hùndùn.

My mind is in complete chaos.

混沌的状态让人不安。

Hùndùn de zhuàngtài ràng rén bù'ān.

The state of chaos makes people uneasy.

在混沌中寻找秩序是困难的。

Zài hùndùn zhōng xúnzhǎo zhìxù shì kùnnán de.

It is difficult to find order in chaos.

科学家试图解释宇宙的混沌起源。

Kēxuéjiā shìtú jiěshì yǔzhòu de hùndùn qǐyuán.

Scientists attempt to explain the chaotic origin of the universe.

他的理论基于对混沌系统的深入研究。

Tā de lǐlùn jīyú duì hùndùn xìtǒng de shēnrù yánjiū.

His theory is based on in-depth research of chaotic systems.

混沌数学在现代物理学中有着广泛应用。

Hùndùn shùxué zài xiàndài wùlǐxué zhōng yǒu zhe guǎngfàn yìngyòng.

Chaos mathematics has widespread applications in modern physics.

面对混沌的现实，他保持了冷静的头脑。

Miàn duì hùndùn de xiànshí, tā bǎochíle lěngjìng de tóunǎo.

Facing the chaotic reality, he maintained a calm mind.

通过模拟混沌现象，研究人员预测了气候的突变。

Tōngguò mónǐ hùndùn xiànxiàng, yánjiū rényuán yùcèle qìhòu de tūbiàn.

By simulating chaotic phenomena, researchers predicted sudden changes in climate.

Related Characters

Component: 屯

Component: 氵

沌