波澜壮阔

波瀾壯闊

bōlánzhuàngkuò

idiom

Meanings

1 on a grand and sweeping scale (idiom)
2 magnificent and majestic
3 surging forward with great momentum

Characters

big wave; billow

Examples

这是一部波澜壮阔的历史画卷。

Zhè shì yī bù bōlánzhuàngkuò de lìshǐ huàjuàn.

This is a sweeping historical panorama.

改革开放是一场波澜壮阔的伟大运动。

Gǎigé kāifàng shì yī chǎng bōlánzhuàngkuò de wěidà yùndòng.

Reform and Opening was a great movement of sweeping scope.

他笔下的战争场面波澜壮阔。

Tā bǐ xià de zhànzhēng chǎngmiàn bōlánzhuàngkuò.

The battle scenes in his writing are magnificent in scale.

Tips

history

From 鲍照's 《登大雷岸与妹书》 (Southern Dynasties): 旅客贫辛，波路壮阔 — originally describing the vast expanse of water along a traveler's route. Later extended to anything grand in scale.

register

Literary, formal, often epic in tone. Typical collocations: 波澜壮阔的 + 历史, 画卷, 运动, 斗争, 诗篇. Rarely appropriate for small everyday events.

Stroke Order

波 bō

澜 lán

壮 zhuàng

阔 kuò