---
title: "Fanlan Meaning: 泛滥 (fànlàn) Means “to run rampant”"
description: "泛滥 (traditional 氾濫, fànlàn) means “to run rampant; to spread unchecked”. Hear its tones, see what 泛 and 滥 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/fanlan"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 泛滥 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

泛滥 fànlàn

## to run rampant; to spread unchecked

## It can also mean

- to flood; to overflow

## Its characters

1. 泛 fàn to flood (as in 泛滥)
2. 滥 làn to overflow

## In a sentence

大雨过后，河水泛滥了。 After the heavy rain, the river flooded.

[More about 泛滥](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%B3%9B%E6%BB%A5)

## More words with 泛 or 滥

- [广泛 guǎngfàn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/guangfan)
- [滥用 lànyòng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/lanyong)

## Keep 泛滥 for Review

A free account keeps it, and Review brings it back just before you’d forget it.

## Look up another word

## See any word in its sentence

Get a card like this for every word on any page or YouTube subtitle.

[Add to Chrome](https://mandarinthewild.com/go/chrome?from=%2Fmeaning%2Ffanlan) [Read in the Library](https://mandarinthewild.com/library)

[Every free Chinese tool we make](https://mandarinthewild.com/tools)

[The best free Chinese listening practice](https://mandarinthewild.com/guides/chinese-listening-practice-resources)