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扩散 (kuò sàn) — to spread; to diffuse; to proliferate

Definition

A neutral, often physical term for something spreading outward in all directions (sound, light, disease, information). Unlike 蔓延, it suggests radial expansion rather than gradual creeping extension; unlike 传播, it lacks the intent to disseminate.

verb
to spreadto diffuseto proliferate

Examples

  • 扩散。
    Zhè zhǒng xiāo xi zài wǎng luò shàng kuài sù kuò sàn.
    This kind of news spreads quickly on the internet.
  • 扩散。
    Shēng yīn zài kōng qì zhōng xiàng sì zhōu kuò sàn.
    Sound spreads in all directions in the air.
  • 扩散，。
    Wèi le bì miǎn bìng dú kuò sàn, dà jiā dōu yào dài kǒu zhào.
    To prevent the virus from spreading, everyone should wear a mask.

Origin

Characters in this word

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 擴; 扩 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
廣
廣guǎng擴kuò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 擴 combines 扌 (hand) and 廣 (guǎng) to show stretching or enlarging with hands. The simplified 扩 is not the form described here.

Open 扩 →

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

  • 林林líntrees, forest
  • 攴攴pūto knock, to tap

散 combines 林 (trees or forest) and 攴 (to knock or tap), originally showing knocking to clear vegetation, later extended to breaking up or dispersing.

Open 散 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Change & Process

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