Translation and Meaning of: 氾濫 - hanran

The Japanese word「氾濫」(hanran) refers to natural events, notably floods and overflows. This expression is composed of two kanji: 「氾」(han), which indicates something "spreading" or "overflowing," and 「濫」(ran), which relates to "overflowing" or "being excessive." Together, these characters symbolize an occurrence in which water exceeds its natural banks, resulting in a flood.

Etymologically, the character 「氾」traces back to elements that transcend their limits, while 「濫」suggests an out-of-control situation, exacerbating the idea of excess or flooding. This combination is not only linguistic but also highlights the cultural perception of the Japanese regarding natural risks, often seen as manifestations of imbalance in nature. The expression 「氾濫」itself is rooted in ancient traditions and stories, depicting many disasters that have marked the geography of Japan throughout the centuries.

Historically, Japan has faced several devastating floods, and the term「氾濫」appears in ancient accounts; such events often brought not only destruction but also opportunities for renewal and learning for the affected communities. Furthermore, due to its geographical location, floods and tsunamis are phenomena that require constant attention and preparation from both the population and the government.

Although the primary context of 「氾濫」 is natural, its application can go beyond, symbolically connecting to figurative situations where something spreads or diffuses uncontrollably. In a broader cultural scenario, it suggests deep reflections on how humans deal with extreme situations, whether they are natural or social.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 洪水 (Kouzui) - Inundation
• 洪水氾濫 (Kouzui Hanran) - Mass flooding
• 洪水被害 (Kouzui Higai) - Damage caused by flooding
• 洪水災害 (Kouzui Saigai) - Disasters caused by flooding
• 洪水被災 (Kouzui Hizai) - Being affected by flooding
• 洪水浸水 (Kouzui Shinsui) - Flooding (submerged waters)
• 洪水水害 (Kouzui Suigai) - Water damage caused by flooding
• 洪水水没 (Kouzui Suibotsu) - Flood-induced submersion
• 洪水水害被害 (Kouzui Suigai Higai) - Damage from water damage caused by the flooding
• 洪水水害災害 (Kouzui Suigai Saigai) - Water damage disasters caused by flooding
• 洪水水害浸水 (Kouzui Suigai Shinsui) - Flooding due to water damage
• 洪水水没被害 (Kouzui Suibotsu Higai) - Flood-related immersion damage
• 洪水水没災害 (Kouzui Suibotsu Saigai) - Flooding caused by submersion disasters

氾濫

Romaji: hanran
Kana: はんらん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: overflowing; inundation

Meaning in English: overflowing;flood

Definition: overflowing with water.

Example Sentences - (氾濫) hanran

See below some example sentences:

この地域は氾濫の危険があります。

Kono chiiki wa hanran no kiken ga arimasu

This area risks flooding.

This area risks flooding.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 地域 - noun that means "region" or "area"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 氾濫 - noun that means "flood" or "flooding"
• の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between words
• 危険 - Noun that means "danger" or "risk"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• あります - verb that means "to have" or "to exist"