làn

rotten

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Components
火 meaning component

  Meaning component

huǒ

  

fire

兰 sound component

  Sound component

lán

  

orchid

Evolution

烂 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
烂 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
烂 Traditional script Modern

Traditional script

Modern
烂 Simplified script Modern

Simplified script

Modern
Definitions

() 

làn

rotten, spoiled, decayed; soft; mushy; well-cooked and soft; to rot; to decompose; rotten; worn out; chaotic; messy; utterly; thoroughly; crappy; bad

Most common words with 烂
Freq.
Word
Meaning

soft

灿烂

to glitter

腐烂

to rot

破烂

worn-out

烂摊子

terrible mess