動 乱(どうらん)

どうらん

noun

upheaval; turmoil; disturbance; civil unrest

formalwritten

1. upheaval; turmoil; disturbance; civil unrest

Large-scale social or political disorder, including riots, revolts, and periods of instability. Often used to describe historical periods of conflict or significant social disruption.

国内(こくない)が動乱(どうらん)に陥(おちい)る。

The country falls into turmoil.

幕末(ばくまつ)の動乱(どうらん)を描(えが)いた小説(しょうせつ)を読(よ)んだ。

I read a novel depicting the turmoil at the end of the Edo period.

政治的(せいじてき)な動乱(どうらん)が続(つづ)き、多(おお)くの市民(しみん)が国外(こくがい)へ避難(ひなん)した。

Amid ongoing political upheaval, many citizens fled the country.

A literary and formal word often found in news reporting and historical writing. Common collocations: 動乱(どうらん)の時代(じだい) (era of turmoil), 動乱(どうらん)に陥(おちい)る (to fall into turmoil), 政治的(せいじてき)動乱(どうらん) (political upheaval). The 朝鮮動乱(ちょうせんどうらん) is a formal Japanese name for the Korean War. Compare with 混乱(こんらん) (confusion, disorder — more general and milder) and 暴動(ぼうどう) (riot — a specific violent act).

Related Words

Compare: 激動(げきどう) (upheaval, turbulence)

general

Added 2026.3.24 20:23 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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