烂

爛

làn

兰 + 火

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

làn (adjective) rotten; decomposed

làn (adjective) soft; mushy; well-cooked

làn (adjective) messy; chaotic

làn (adjective) worn out; broken down

làn (adverb) utterly; thoroughly

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 火 represents the meaning and 兰 represents the sound. Simplified form of 爛.

Semantic: 火 Phonetic: 兰

About

烂 (làn) is a phono-semantic compound, simplified from 爛. The fire radical 火 (huǒ) provides the meaning, and 兰 (lán) provides the sound, replacing the original phonetic 闌 (lán). Originally, the fire radical conveyed brightness or food cooked until soft, leading to historical uses for radiant light and well-cooked dishes. Over time, the primary meaning shifted from 'cooked soft' to 'overripe, spoiled, or rotten', though the character still describes soft, mushy textures in cooked food.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

水果已经腐烂了。

Shuǐguǒ yǐjīng fǔlàn le.

The fruit has already rotten.

阳光灿烂的日子。

Yángguāng cànlàn de rìzi.

A day with brilliant sunshine.

孩子们天真烂漫。

Háizimen tiānzhēn lànmàn.

The children are innocent and artless.

他把课文背得烂熟。

Tā bǎ kèwén bèi dé lànshú.

He has memorized the text thoroughly.

路上全是烂泥。

Lùshàng quán shì lànní.

The road is full of mud.

他留下了一个烂摊子。

Tā liúxiàle yīgè làn tānzi.

He left behind a mess.

他昨晚喝得烂醉。

Tā zuó wǎn hē dé lànzuì.

He was dead drunk last night.

那个工程烂尾了。

Nàgè gōngchéng lànwěi le.

That construction project was left unfinished.

Related Characters

Component: 兰

Component: 火

烂