加宽 (jiā kuān) — to broaden, to widen

Definition

A separable verb meaning 'to widen / broaden' a physical space or abstract scope (路, 范围). Contrast with 扩大 (HSK 6), which extends to abstract scope like 影响 or 规模; 加宽 stays closer to physical width, while 扩大 covers both physical and figurative.

verb
to broadento widen

Examples

  • 加宽。
    Zhè tiáo lù xū yào jiā kuān.
    This road needs to be widened.
  • 加宽。
    Tā men bǎ lù jiā kuān le.
    They widened the road.
  • 加宽。
    Zhè ge shè jì kě yǐ jiā kuān fàn wéi.
    This design can broaden the scope.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

加jiāincrease
宽kuānwide

加 adds or increases, and 宽 shows becoming wider.

Characters in this word

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

加 pairs 力 and 口. In one explanation 力 is strength and 口 is the mouth, meaning exaggeration; in another 力 is plowing effort and 口 is breath or exclamation, meaning extra effort.

Open 加 →

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 寬; 宽 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánhouse
Sound part声符shēngfú
萈
萈huán寬kuān
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 寬 pairs 宀, a house, with 萈, a goat used for sound, to show a spacious house; the simplified 宽 is a later abbreviation.

Open 宽 →

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