轰

轟

hōng

双 + 车

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

hōng (noun) explosion; bang; boom; rumble

hōng (verb) to drive away; to expel

Etymology

Simplified form of 轟. Depicts the sound made by many vehicles (车). The meaning later shifted to "rumble".

About

The simplified character 轰 replaces the traditional 轟, which stacked three 車 (vehicle) components in a triangular arrangement, with two 车 placed one over the other. This configuration visually suggests the collective clamor of many carts, which gave rise to its original meaning: the loud rumbling of a fleet of horse-drawn chariots. From there, the sense shifted to any deep, resonant rumble, then expanded to loud explosive noises and, as a verb, to bombard, blast, or forcibly drive away.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

雷声轰隆隆。

Léi shēng hōng lóng lóng.

The thunder rumbles.

轰炸机飞过去了。

Hōngzhàjī fēi guòqù le.

The bomber flew past.

爆炸声轰地一声。

Bàozhà shēng hōng de yī shēng.

The explosion sounded with a bang.

这个消息轰动全国。

Zhè ge xiāoxi hōngdòng quán guó.

This news caused a sensation across the country.

炮火轰击了敌军阵地。

Pàohuǒ hōngjī le dírén zhèndì.

The artillery fire bombarded the enemy positions.

洪水轰隆隆地冲垮了堤坝。

Hóngshuǐ hōng lóng lóng de chōng kuǎ le dībà.

The flood rumbled and collapsed the dam.

他的新发明一经公布，就轰动了整个科学界。

Tā de xīn fāmíng yī jīng gōngbù, jiù hōngdòng le zhěnggè kēxué jiè.

As soon as his new invention was announced, it caused a sensation in the entire scientific community.

在连续的轰炸下，城市的基础设施遭到了严重破坏。

Zài liánxù de hōngzhà xià, chéngshì de jīchǔ shèshī zāodào le yánzhòng pòhuài.

Under continuous bombardment, the city's infrastructure was severely damaged.

Related Characters

Component: 双

Component: 车

轰