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拓宽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
拓宽tuòkuānto broadenHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #27096, Very Hard
tuòkuān(tuo4kuan1)tuo kuan T4
  1. 1to broaden
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March 24, 2026

拓宽(拓寬)tuòkuān(tuo4kuan1)

拓宽 (tuòkuān) means to broaden or expand, often used in the context of increasing scope, range, or opportunities. It can refer to physical spaces, such as expanding a road, or metaphorical concepts, like broadening one's horizons or perspectives.

Strokes18Frequency#27096DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese society, the concept of broadening one's perspectives is often emphasized, especially in education and career development. The phrase 拓宽视野 (tuòkuān shìyě) is commonly used in discussions about personal growth and learning.

Memory tip

Imagine a wide road being expanded to accommodate more traffic. The character 拓 (tuò) suggests 'to open up' or 'expand,' while 宽 (kuān) directly means 'wide.' Picture a wide road (宽) that is being opened up (拓) to allow more cars to pass.

Meanings of 拓宽

tuòkuān(tuo4kuan1)
1to broaden
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About 拓宽

拓宽Simplified
拓寬Traditional
18Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 拓宽

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AI study notes for 拓宽

Quick Contrast

扩展 (kuòzhǎn) - use 拓宽 when emphasizing the action of broadening, especially in a physical or metaphorical sense, while 扩展 often refers to extending or expanding in a more general or abstract manner.

Usage Notes

This term is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in discussions about development and growth. Be mindful of its collocation with nouns related to growth, such as 视野 (shìyě, horizons) or 思维 (sīwéi, thinking).

HSK Study Tips

Although 拓宽 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK level 4 words related to growth and expansion, such as 增加 (zēngjiā, to increase) and 发展 (fāzhǎn, to develop). Focus on understanding its application in various contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 拓宽 with 发展 (fāzhǎn, to develop), but while 发展 implies growth in a particular direction, 拓宽 specifically emphasizes expansion. For example, saying '我想发展我的视野' (I want to develop my horizons) is less precise than '我想拓宽我的视野.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 拓宽

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Component characters

拓tàto make a rubbing (e.g. of an inscription)
8 strokes扌
View full entry
宽kuānlenient
HSK 510 strokes宀
View full entry

How to say to broaden in Chinese

“to broaden” in Chinese is拓宽tuòkuān

拓宽 (tuòkuān) means to broaden or expand, often used in the context of increasing scope, range, or opportunities. It can refer to physical spaces, such as expanding a road, or metaphorical concepts, like broadening one's horizons or perspectives.

When to use 拓宽

This term is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in discussions about development and growth. Be mindful of its collocation with nouns related to growth, such as 视野 (shìyě, horizons) or 思维 (sīwéi, thinking).

拓宽 or something close to it

扩展 (kuòzhǎn) - use 拓宽 when emphasizing the action of broadening, especially in a physical or metaphorical sense, while 扩展 often refers to extending or expanding in a more general or abstract manner.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 拓宽 with 发展 (fāzhǎn, to develop), but while 发展 implies growth in a particular direction, 拓宽 specifically emphasizes expansion. For example, saying '我想发展我的视野' (I want to develop my horizons) is less precise than '我想拓宽我的视野.'

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拓
宽

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Cultural Notes for 拓宽

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

The idea of broadening perspectives is universally valued, but in Western cultures, it may be more associated with individualism and personal achievement, whereas in Chinese culture, it is often tied to collective growth and social harmony.

Frequently asked questions about 拓宽

You can use 扩展 (kuòzhǎn) or 增长 (zēngzhǎng) as synonyms, depending on the context.

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