波乱(はらん)

はらん
noun
turbulence; upheaval
1. turbulence; upheaval; troubles; stormy developments
Dramatic twists, disruptions, or unexpected turns of events. Often used to describe a life, era, or situation filled with dramatic ups and downs.
波乱(はらん)に満(み)ちた人生(じんせい)だった。
It was a life full of turmoil.
今回(こんかい)の選挙(せんきょ)は波乱(はらん)の展開(てんかい)となった。
This election took a turbulent turn.
大会(たいかい)初日(しょにち)から波乱(はらん)が起(お)き、優勝(ゆうしょう)候補(こうほ)が次々(つぎつぎ)と敗退(はいたい)した。
Upsets occurred from the first day of the tournament, and favorites were eliminated one after another.

Usage

波乱(はらん) literally means "waves and turmoil," evoking the image of a stormy sea. The most iconic phrase is 波乱(はらん)万丈(ばんじょう) (extremely eventful, full of ups and downs), commonly used to describe someone's dramatic life story. In sports and politics, 波乱(はらん) often means an upset or unexpected outcome.

Common collocations

Related Words

Compare: 風波(ふうは) (wind and waves)
general
Added 2026.2.24 16:31 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13000/13271_haran