騒乱(そうらん)

そうらん
noun
disturbance; riot; civil unrest
formalsocietypolitics
1. a large-scale disturbance or riot; a breakdown of public order in which crowds act violently
A formal word for serious public disorder — riots, mob violence, or civil unrest. Stronger than 騒動(そうどう) (a commotion) and used in news reports, legal contexts, and historical writing. The word emphasizes that the disturbance is widespread and threatens public order.
街(まち)で騒乱(そうらん)が起(お)きた。
A disturbance broke out in the city.
政府(せいふ)は騒乱(そうらん)を鎮圧(ちんあつ)した。
The government suppressed the riot.
選挙(せんきょ)の結果(けっか)をめぐって各地(かくち)で騒乱(そうらん)が発生(はっせい)した。
Riots broke out in various regions over the election results.
騒乱(そうらん)罪(ざい)で多数(たすう)の者(もの)が逮捕(たいほ)された。
A large number of people were arrested on charges of rioting.

A formal term for serious civil disorder, typically appearing in news, legal, or historical contexts. Not used for small-scale commotions.

Usage

  • Written Japanese and formal speech; rare in casual conversation.
  • 騒乱(そうらん)罪(ざい) is an established legal term for the crime of rioting.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 騒動(そうどう): commotion, uproar — broader and weaker; includes everyday fusses and scandals as well as disturbances.
  • 暴動(ぼうどう): riot — emphasizes violent action by a mob; often used interchangeably with 騒乱(そうらん) but focuses on the violence itself rather than the breakdown of order.
  • 内乱(ないらん): civil war, insurrection — implies an organized, armed uprising, much larger in scale.

Register

Formal and written. Journalists, officials, and historians use it; ordinary speakers prefer 騒(さわ)ぎ or 騒動(そうどう).

Related Words

Compare: 騒動(そうどう) (commotion, uproar)
Compare: 暴動(ぼうどう) (riot)
Compare: 内乱(ないらん) (civil war, insurrection)
Homophone: 総覧(そうらん) (comprehensive survey)
general
Added 2026.4.15 21:11 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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