泛滥 fànlàn to overflow
to overflow; to inundate; to flood; (figuratively) to proliferate unchecked
How to remember 泛滥: 泛 to drift + 滥 to flood = to overflow.
Characters
How it is used
- Literal: flooding - 河水泛滥 (héshuǐ fànlàn) the river overflows its banks.
- Very common figuratively for something spreading unchecked and harmfully - 假货泛滥 (jiǎhuò fànlàn) counterfeit goods are rampant.
- Carries a negative tone: overflow of bad things (rumors, piracy, sentimentality), so 泛滥成灾 (fànlàn chéng zāi) 'to spread to disastrous levels'.
Example sentences
- 大雨使河水泛滥。 Dàyǔ shǐ héshuǐ fànlàn.The rivers were flooded by the heavy rain.