滂沱

Chinese

Pronunciation

Adjective

滂沱

1. (ideophonic, of rain) pouring; torrential; raining heavily
   • c. 11th century BCE - 7th century BCE, unknown, 詩經 [Classic of Poetry]:

     月離于畢，俾滂沱矣。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     月离于毕，俾滂沱矣。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     Yuè lí yú Bì, bǐ pāngtuó yǐ.

     The moon also is in the Hyades,
     Which will bring still greater rain.

   • 2015, “《天光》”, performed by C AllStar:

     只是哪又算漏我，到我出醜，猶如大雨在滂沱。 [Literary Cantonese, trad.]
     只是哪又算漏我，到我出丑，犹如大雨在滂沱。 [Literary Cantonese, simp.]

     zi² si⁶ naa⁵ jau⁶ syun³ lau⁶ ngo⁵, dou³ ngo⁵ ceot¹ cau², jau⁴ jyu⁴ daai⁶ jyu⁵ zoi⁶ pong¹ to⁴.

     But how would they forget to count me in; when it is my turn to make a fool of myself, it is like rain pouring down heavily.

2. (ideophonic, of tears) streaming down; in streams; crying profusely
   • c. 11th century BCE - 7th century BCE, unknown, 詩經 [Classic of Poetry]:

     彼澤之陂，有蒲與荷。有美一人，傷如之何。寤寐無為，涕泗滂沱。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     彼泽之陂，有蒲与荷。有美一人，伤如之何。寤寐无为，涕泗滂沱。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     Bǐ zé zhī bēi, yǒu pú yǔ hé. Yǒu měi yī rén, shāng rú zhī hé. Wùmèi wúwéi, tìsì pāngtuó.

     By the shores of that marsh,
     There are rushes and lotus plants.
     There is the beautiful lady; -
     I am tortured for her, but what avails it?
     Waking or sleeping, I do nothing;
     From my eyes and nose the water streams.

   • c. 4th century BCE - 2nd century C.E., various authors, compiled by 劉向 [Liu Xiang], 楚辭 [The Verses of Chu]:

     還顧世俗兮，壞敗罔羅。捲佩將逝兮，涕流滂沱。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     还顾世俗兮，坏败罔罗。卷佩将逝兮，涕流滂沱。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     Huángù shìsú xī, huàibài wǎng luó. Juǎn pèi jiāng shì xī, tì liú pāngtuó.

     I turned and looked back at the foolish world, lost in destruction's nets.
     I twisted my girdle, preparing to depart, and my tears fell in streams.

   • c. 4th century BCE - 2nd century C.E., various authors, compiled by 劉向 [Liu Xiang], 楚辭 [The Verses of Chu]:

     車軏折兮馬虺頹，惷悵立兮涕滂沱。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     车𫐄折兮马虺颓，惷怅立兮涕滂沱。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     Chē yuè zhé xī mǎ huǐtuí, chǔn chàng lì xī tì pāngtuó.

     My chariot-bar broke and my horses sank exhausted;
     Stricken I stood then, my face bathed in tears.

   • Tang dynasty, Han Yu, 《石鼓歌》 [A Poem on the Stone Drums]:

     孔子西行不到秦，掎摭星宿遺羲娥。嗟予好古生苦晚，對此涕淚雙滂沱。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
     孔子西行不到秦，掎摭星宿遗羲娥。嗟予好古生苦晚，对此涕泪双滂沱。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

     Kǒngzǐ xīxíng bù dào Qín, jǐzhí xīngxiù yí Xī'é. Jiē yú hàogǔ shēng kǔ wǎn, duì cǐ tìlèi shuāng pāngtuó.

     Confucius journeyed in the west, but not to the Qin Kingdom,
     He chose our planet and our stars but missed the sun and moon;
     I who am fond of antiquity, was born too late,
     And, thinking of these wonderful things, cannot hold back my tears...

   • 1992, “紅日”, 李克勤 [Hacken Lee] (lyrics), 立川俊之 (music), performed by 李克勤 [Hacken Lee]:

     在某年　那幼小的我　跌倒過幾多幾多落淚在雨夜滂沱 [Literary Cantonese, trad.]
     在某年　那幼小的我　跌倒过几多几多落泪在雨夜滂沱 [Literary Cantonese, simp.]

     zoi⁶ mau⁵ nin⁴, naa⁵ jau³ siu² dik¹ ngo⁵, dit³ dou² gwo³ gei² do¹ gei² do¹ lok⁶ leoi⁶ zoi⁶ jyu⁵ je⁶ pong⁴ to⁴

     At that year, that young me had fallen many many times and cried profusely in rainy nights

3. (ideophonic, literary) vast; plentiful; overflowing
4. (ideophonic, literary) rich in variety; sumptuous; lavish
5. (ideophonic, literary, of water) flowing far and wide

Derived terms

Descendants

See also

• 滂沛
• 滂滂
• 瀢沱／𬉋沱 (duìduò)