混乱

こんらん

chaos, confusion, mayhem

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The word 混乱 (hùn luàn) primarily means 'confusion' or 'chaos' and is used to describe situations or states where order is lost or things are in disorder. It can refer to physical disorder, such as traffic chaos, or mental confusion, such as a confused state of mind.

Common Contexts

混乱 is often used in formal or written contexts to describe complex situations like meetings, social events, or mental states. It conveys a stronger sense of disorder than simpler words like .

Collocations and Patterns

  • 发生混乱: to have chaos occur, often used for events or situations
  • 思绪混乱: confused thoughts, describing mental state
  • 陷入混乱: to fall into confusion or chaos, often describing a process

Usage Notes

混乱 is a noun but can also function as an adjective in some contexts. It is more formal and serious than words like or , which are more colloquial. Avoid confusing 混乱 with , which is more about puzzlement or being perplexed rather than disorder.

Character Insights

The character means 'muddy' or 'confused,' and means 'in disorder or confusion.' Together, they emphasize a state where things are mixed up and disordered.

Example Sentences

The meeting fell into confusion because of differing opinions.

His thoughts are very confused and he can't concentrate.

The traffic accident caused chaos on the road.