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开阔 (kāi kuò) — (adjective) wide, open; broad (of space, mind, vision); (verb) to broaden, to expand (one's horizons, mind)

Definition

Used for physical space ('wide, open') and for abstract scope like mind or horizons ('broad'). Compared to 广阔 it leans more toward 'open' than 'vast'; as a verb ('to broaden'), it pairs with 眼界 / 心胸, not territory.

adjective
wideopenbroad (of space, mind, vision)
verb
to broadento expand (one's horizons, mind)

Examples

  • ，开阔。
    Cóng shān dǐng kàn xià qù, shì yě fēi cháng kāi kuò.
    Looking down from the mountaintop, the view is very open.
  • ，开阔。
    Tā xìng gé kāi lǎng, xīn xiōng kāi kuò.
    He is cheerful and broad-minded.
  • 开阔。
    Duō chū qù zǒu zǒu néng kāi kuò nǐ de yǎn jiè.
    Going out more can broaden your horizons.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

开kāiopen
阔kuòwide

开 means open, and 阔 means wide, so it describes space as open and wide.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 開; 开 is its simplified writing.

  • 門門méndoor
  • 一一yīlatch and/or wooden pole that shuts a door
  • 廾廾gǒnga pair of hands

The traditional form 開 shows 廾, a pair of hands, and 一, a latch or pole, inside 門, a door: hands opening a latched door. The simplified 开 is a shorthand form, so its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 开 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 闊; 阔 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
門門méngate; door
Sound part声符shēngfú
活
活huó闊kuò
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 闊 shows 門, a gate or door, with 活, which gives the sound; the simplified 阔 is a later shorthand.

Open 阔 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Size & Dimension

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