Definition
泛滥成灾 is a four-character idiom (成语) that literally means 'flooding causes disaster' — a river overflowing its banks. Figuratively, it describes something (a phenomenon, product, rumor, etc.) that spreads so widely or quickly that it becomes a serious, hard-to-control problem. You can use it for both concrete overabundance (e.g., fake goods flooding the market) and abstract issues (e.g., misinformation spreading online).
f.e.
to run rampantto become a serious problem due to excessive spread or quantityto flood disastrously (literal or figurative)
Examples
- 泛滥成灾，。Jiǎhuò zài shìchǎng shàng fàn làn chéng zāi, xiāofèizhě hěn nán fēnbiàn zhēnwěi.Counterfeit goods are flooding the market, making it hard for consumers to tell real from fake.
- 泛滥成灾，。Wǎngluò yáoyán fàn làn chéng zāi, duì shèhuì wěndìng zàochéng le hěn dà wēixié.Online rumors are running rampant, posing a serious threat to social stability.
- ，泛滥成灾。Rúguǒ héshuǐ jìxù shàngzhǎng, xiàyóu dìqū jiù huì fàn làn chéng zāi.If the river keeps rising, the downstream areas will be flooded disastrously.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.