About
The character 荡 originates from the traditional form 蕩, a phono-semantic compound. The grass radical 艹 at the top links it to marshy, vegetated aquatic environments, while the bottom component 汤 contributes the sound and a water-related sense. Its earliest meaning described the physical sloshing of water in a container or shallow marsh. From this oscillating motion, the sense extended to verbs like swinging, swaying, or drifting. It also came to mean clearing away obstacles or washing a surface clean. In social or moral contexts, it describes unrestrained, reckless behavior lacking personal discipline or conventional moral foundations.
Example Sentences Hide
我们在公园荡秋千。
湖面荡漾着微波。
他们在湖上荡舟。
旗帜在风中飘荡。
雨水荡涤了街道的灰尘。
那个地区的局势一直动荡不安。
政府军扫荡了叛乱分子的营地。
她的歌声在夜空中回荡。