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宽泛 (kuān fàn) — wide-ranging, broad (often implying lack of specificity)

Definition

Used when a definition, scope, or statement covers a lot of ground but lacks precision. Compare 笼统 (vague, lacking detail) — 宽泛 emphasizes broad scope, 笼统 emphasizes imprecision.

adjective
wide-rangingbroad (often implying lack of specificity)

Examples

  • 宽泛，。
    Zhè ge cí yǔ de hán yì fēi cháng kuān fàn, xū yào jìn yí bù jiě shì.
    The meaning of this term is very broad and needs further explanation.
  • 宽泛，。
    Tā de yǎn jiǎng nèi róng tài kuān fàn, méi yǒu zhòng diǎn.
    His speech was too wide-ranging and lacked focus.
  • 宽泛。
    Zhè ge fǎ lǜ tiáo kuǎn de shì yòng fàn wéi hěn kuān fàn.
    The scope of application of this legal clause is very broad.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

宽kuānbroad
泛fàngeneral

宽 means broad and 泛 means general; together they suggest wide-ranging generality.

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 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 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
乏
乏fá泛fàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

泛 pairs 氵 (water) with 乏, which gives the sound.

Open 泛 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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