旷 (kuàng) — (of space) vast, spacious; (of mind) free from worries, open and relaxed
Definition
Literary word for 'vast' (open space) or 'free and unburdened' (mind). 心旷神怡 is a set phrase for feeling carefree before a beautiful view. Note: the verb sense 'to neglect/waste' (旷课, 旷工) is more common in modern use.
adjective
(of space) vastspacious(of mind) free from worriesopen and relaxed
Examples
- 。Zhè piàn kuàng yě yì yǎn wàng bú dào biān.This vast wilderness stretches as far as the eye can see.
- ，旷。Kàn dào zhè yàng de měi jǐng, zhēn ràng rén xīn kuàng shén yí.Seeing such beautiful scenery truly makes one feel carefree and relaxed.
- 。Zhè ge fèi qì de gōng chǎng fēi cháng kōng kuàng.This abandoned factory is very spacious.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 曠; 旷 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
廣
廣guǎng曠kuàng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 曠 pairs 日 (sun) with 廣 as a sound part; the simplified 旷 is a later shorthand, so its right side is not the historical 廣.
Appears in
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