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March 24, 2026
慷kāng(kang1)
The character 慷 (kāng) describes a person who is generous, magnanimous, or fervent in their emotions. It is often used to express a person's willingness to give or support others, especially in a spirited manner. This term can be seen in both social contexts and in literature to convey passion or enthusiasm.
Strokes14Radical忄Frequency#72292DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the idea of generosity is often celebrated in literature and philosophy, particularly in Confucian teachings that emphasize benevolence. 慷 reflects the cultural value placed on being giving and supportive within communities.
Memory Tip
Imagine a kind-hearted person (represented by the radical '心' for heart) who is so generous that they 'kang' (sounds like 'con') others into feeling good. Visualize them giving away their treasures with an open heart, showing their magnanimity.
Meanings of 慷
kāng(kang1)
1generous
2magnanimous
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 慷
慷Simplified
14Strokes
忄Radical
成语chéngyǔidiom (id.)Part of Speech
#65535Frequency Rank
Podcast: 慷
Podcast: 慷
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AI Study Notes for 慷
Quick Contrast
慷 (kāng) vs 激昂 (jī áng) — use 慷 for a focus on generosity or willingness to give, while 激昂 emphasizes passionate intensity or fervor.
Usage Notes
慷 is typically used in more formal contexts, often in literature or speeches. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words that may have different meanings. It is commonly collocated with words related to generosity and emotional expression, such as 慷慨 (kāngkǎi), meaning 'generous' or 'open-handed'.
HSK Study Tips
While 慷 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be linked to higher-level words about generosity and emotions. Students should focus on recognizing the character in texts and understanding its nuances in context, as it may not come up in basic conversation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 慷 with similar characters like 亢 (kàng), which means 'high' or 'exuberant.' For example, saying '他是亢慷' instead of '他是慷慨' is incorrect. Always use 慷慨 to express generosity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 慷
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Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 康 represents the sound.
1The meaning half忄 carries the sense.
2The sound half康 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayheart
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 慷? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 慷?
Decomposition of 慷
IDS Structure⿰忄康
慷Full Character
=
忄xin1
left
康Kang1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 慷?
How to say generous in Chinese
“generous” in Chinese is慷kāng
The character 慷 (kāng) describes a person who is generous, magnanimous, or fervent in their emotions. It is often used to express a person's willingness to give or support others, especially in a spirited manner. This term can be seen in both social contexts and in literature to convey passion or enthusiasm.
When to use 慷
慷 is typically used in more formal contexts, often in literature or speeches. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words that may have different meanings. It is commonly collocated with words related to generosity and emotional expression, such as 慷慨 (kāngkǎi), meaning 'generous' or 'open-handed'.
慷 or something close to it
慷 (kāng) vs 激昂 (jī áng) — use 慷 for a focus on generosity or willingness to give, while 激昂 emphasizes passionate intensity or fervor.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 慷 with similar characters like 亢 (kàng), which means 'high' or 'exuberant.' For example, saying '他是亢慷' instead of '他是慷慨' is incorrect. Always use 慷慨 to express generosity.
Write 慷
慷
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Practice writing 慷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 慷
慷 functions as a four-character idiom (成语). Treat it as a fixed unit; it usually plays the role of a single adjective, adverb, or noun phrase inside the larger sentence. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
重要的是工钱，不要过于____慨，但也没办法。
It's the wages that count. Not over-generous, but there you are.
