動乱|どうらんdouran[0]heiban (flat)

1. noundisturbance; upheaval; unrest; war; riot

• Synonym騒動そうどうNeutralNeutral word for an uproar or commotion; broad in use, covering scandals too. 「動乱」 implies order collapsing into riots or war — far larger in scale and more serious.
• Synonym騒乱そうらんWrittenWritten/formal word for riots that disturb public order; used in news and historical accounts. 「動乱」 is more severe and often involves war.
• Synonym擾乱じょうらんWrittenWritten/formal and rare; refers to order being thrown into disarray, also atmospheric disturbance. Does not specifically mean riots or war.
• Synonym騒擾そうじょうWrittenWritten/formal old legal term for crowds rioting and disturbing public order; now mostly replaced by 「騒乱」. Does not imply war.
• Related波乱はらんNeutralNeutral word for ups and downs, as in 「波乱万丈」; often describes twists in life or a match, not necessarily social upheaval.
• Related事変じへんWrittenWritten/formal term for armed conflict without a declaration of war, or an emergency; historical flavor, as in 「満州事変」; often names events.
• Related混乱こんらんNeutralNeutral, very common word for disorder or confusion; applies to traffic, one's head, etc., with no violence implied. 「動乱」 is limited to social upheaval.
• Related激動げきどうWrittenWritten/formal word for drastic change in the situation, as in 「激動の時代」; stresses the intensity of change, violence not necessarily involved.
• Related紛擾ふんじょうWrittenWritten/formal but rare; centers on disputes and wrangling. Does not involve riots or war.
• Related乱らんWrittenWritten/formal word for revolt or war, often in historical event names like 「応仁の乱」; on its own more archaic than 「動乱」.
• Antonym平和へいわNeutralAntonym: a peaceful state free of war and calamity; contrasts with 「動乱」, where riots and war break out.
• Antonym安定あんていNeutralAntonym: a stable situation with no major changes; contrasts with 「動乱」, where social order falls apart.

Use 「動乱」 for times when social order collapses and riots or war break out, as in 「動乱の時代」. For disturbances of public order say 「騒乱」, for an uproar or scandal 「騒動」, for drastic change 「激動」. The opposites are 「平和」 and 「安定」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 世の中よのなかの秩序ちつじょが乱みだれ、暴動ぼうどうや戦争せんそうが起おこること。