波乱万丈(はらんばんじょう)

はらんばんじょう
na-adjective, noun, expression
eventful, turbulent
descriptiveexpression
1. eventful, turbulent, full of ups and downs
A four-character idiom describing a life or story full of dramatic changes, difficulties, and unexpected events.
彼女(かのじょ)は波乱万丈(はらんばんじょう)の人生(じんせい)を送(おく)った。
She led an eventful life full of ups and downs.
波乱万丈(はらんばんじょう)な展開(てんかい)のドラマだ。
It's a drama with a turbulent plot.
その会社(かいしゃ)は波乱万丈(はらんばんじょう)の歴史(れきし)を持(も)つ。
That company has a turbulent history.

FOUR-CHARACTER IDIOM (四字熟語(よじじゅくご))

Literal meaning: 波乱(はらん) (turbulence, upheaval) + 万丈(ばんじょう) (ten thousand 丈(じょう) - an extremely high measure) = Waves of turbulence as high as mountains.

Forms

  • 波乱万丈(はらんばんじょう)な＋noun (attributive)
  • 波乱万丈(はらんばんじょう)の＋noun (attributive - more common)
  • 波乱万丈(はらんばんじょう)だ (predicative)

Common collocations

Nuance: Often used with a somewhat positive connotation, suggesting a life that was interesting and full of experiences, even if difficult. Frequently used for biographies, autobiographies, and dramatic narratives.

Related idiom: 波瀾万丈(はらんばんじょう) is an alternative spelling using 瀾(らん) instead of 乱(らん).

Related Words

Related: 多事多難(たじたなん) (full of troubles)
Compare: 前途多難(ぜんとたなん) (many difficulties ahead)
general
Added 2026.1.17 20:36 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
06000/06378_haranbanjou