瀾

A phono-semantic compound:

水 (수) — semantic component, indicating water

闌 (란) — phonetic component, supplying the sound (란 / lán)

The image evokes water swelling and spreading in broad waves, suggesting large, rolling billows rather than small ripples.

Semantic development:

- physical waves — rolling water

- violent motion — surging forces

- figurative upheaval — dramatic change, turmoil

In Korean, 瀾 appears mainly in literary, idiomatic, and poetic expressions.

Common compounds:

파란 (波瀾) — waves and billows; ups and downs

격랑 (激瀾) — turbulent waves

풍랑 (風瀾) — stormy seas (literary)

파란만장 (波瀾萬丈) — full of dramatic ups and downs

Compared with 波 (ordinary waves), 瀾 emphasizes large-scale, powerful movement.

Related characters (waves & water motion):

波 — wave

浪 — wave; billow

潮 — tide

湧 — surge; gush

濤 — great waves

Among these, 瀾 is distinctive for its sense of grandeur and turbulence, often used metaphorically.