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夸张 (kuā zhāng) — exaggerated, overstated; (colloquial) excessive, ridiculous, outrageous

Definition

Describes language or style that is deliberately overstated, often for effect. Stronger and more theatrical than 过分 ('over the top'), which critiques behavior — use 夸张 for how something is said or looks.

adjective
exaggeratedoverstated(colloquial) excessiveridiculousoutrageous

Examples

  • 夸张，。
    Zhè ge guǎng gào tài kuā zhāng le, méi rén huì xiāng xìn.
    This advertisement is too exaggerated; no one will believe it.
  • 夸张，。
    Nǐ shuō huà bié zhè me kuā zhāng, shí shì qiú shì jiù hǎo.
    Don't be so exaggerated when you speak; just be realistic.
  • 夸张，。
    Tā chuān de yī fu yán sè tài kuā zhāng le, kàn zhe hěn cì yǎn.
    The color of his clothes is too outrageous; it's very glaring.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

夸kuāexaggerate
张zhāngstretch

Both 夸 and 张 convey stretching or overstating, so the word describes something exaggerated or excessive.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
大大dàman
Sound part声符shēngfú
于
于yú夸kuā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

夸 is built from 大, a standing man, above 于, which gives the sound.

Open 夸 →

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 張; 张 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
弓弓gōngbow
Sound part声符shēngfú
長
長cháng張zhāng
Same sound today

The traditional form 張 combines 弓, a bow, with 長, which points to the sound; the simplified 张 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 张 →
Appears in
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