空阔 (kōng kuò) — spacious and open, vast (of space or view) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literary adjective for very wide, open space — the view feels boundless and empty. Stronger than 宽敞, which suits rooms; 空阔 is for landscapes and horizons.

spacious and openvast (of space or view)

Examples

，空阔。
Zhàn zài shān dǐng shàng, shì yě fēi cháng kōng kuò.
Standing on the mountaintop, the view is very open and vast.
空阔，。
Cǎo yuán shàng yí piàn kōng kuò, ràng rén xīn kuàng shén yí.
The grassland is vast and open, refreshing the mind and spirit.
空阔。
kōng kuò De guǎng chǎng shàng zhǐ yǒu jǐ gè rén zài sàn bù.
Only a few people are strolling in the spacious square.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

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

空 (open) plus 阔 (broad) gives a vast, open sense of space.

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.

穴工空

Meaning part形符xíngfú

穴穴xuécave, hole

Sound part声符shēngfú

工

工gōng空kōng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

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.

門活闊

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.

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