(kǎn) — to chat casually, to shoot the breeze; to brag, to boast

Definition

侃 is a casual, colloquial verb usually seen in the set phrase 侃侃而谈 ('chat freely / speak at length') or with 胡 to mean 'brag'. It is more literary than 聊天 (liáo tiān) and specifically suggests easy, unhurried talk.

verb
to chat casuallyto shoot the breezeto bragto boast

Examples

  • Tā men jǐ gè rén zài chá guǎn lǐ kǎn le yí xià wǔ.
    A few of them chatted away the afternoon in the tea house.
  • Tā zǒng xǐ huan zài péng you miàn qián hú kǎn, shuō zì jǐ yǒu duō lì hài.
    He always likes to boast in front of friends, saying how great he is.
  • Bié tīng tā kǎn, tā shuō de dōu shì jiǎ de.
    Don't listen to his boasting; everything he says is fake.

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