扩大化 (kuò dà huà) — to broaden the scope (of an issue, accusation, or conflict) excessively; to magnify or exaggerate (a problem or situation)

Definition

Refers to widening the scope of something (a problem, accusation, conflict) too far, usually with a negative judgment. Implies excess, unlike plain 扩大 which is neutral.

verb
to broaden the scope (of an issue, accusation, or conflict) excessivelyto magnify or exaggerate (a problem or situation)

Examples

  • 扩大化，。
    Zhè cì diào chá bù néng kuò dà huà, yào jí zhōng zài jù tǐ wèn tí shàng.
    This investigation must not broaden its scope; it should focus on specific issues.
  • 扩大化。
    Tā men pī píng lǐng dǎo bǎ xiǎo shì kuò dà huà le.
    They criticized the leader for magnifying a small matter.
  • ，扩大化。
    Lì shǐ jiào xùn gào sù wǒ men, jiē jí dòu zhēng bù néng kuò dà huà.
    Historical lessons tell us that class struggle must not be broadened in scope.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

扩大enlarge
扩kuòexpand大dàbig
补充Verb + complement
化huàturn into

扩大 (enlarge) plus 化 makes it a process of magnifying, often excessively.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 大 is a picture of a person standing and facing forward, not of someone stretching their arms.

Open 大 →

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

化 shows two person figures, one upright and one upside down, to give the idea of reversal or change.

Open 化 →

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