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寬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
寬kuānbroad, spacious, vast, widezg, 15 strokes, radical 宀
kuān(kuan1)kuan T1
  1. 1broad, spacious, vast, wide
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

寬kuān(kuan1)

The character 寬 (kuān) means broad or wide, often used to describe physical spaces, such as rooms or roads, as well as abstract concepts like tolerance. It conveys a sense of spaciousness and openness, making it applicable in both literal and figurative contexts.

Strokes15Radical宀
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of spaciousness is often associated with harmony and balance in living spaces, reflecting the importance of a comfortable environment in daily life. The idea of '宽容' (kuānróng), meaning tolerance, also ties back to this character, emphasizing broad-mindedness.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wide river (寬) flowing through a vast landscape. The character has a roof (亻) which represents shelter and a wide base (宽), symbolizing the openness beneath it. Together, they paint a picture of a spacious, welcoming place.

Meanings of 寬

kuān(kuan1)
1broad, spacious, vast, wide
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 寬 means.

About 寬

寬Simplified
15Strokes
宀Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 寬

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Podcast: 寬

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AI Study Notes for 寬

Quick Contrast

宽 (kuān) vs 宽敞 (kuānchǎng) — use 宽 for general width, while 宽敞 emphasizes spaciousness.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 寬 (kuān) with 狭 (xiá), which means narrow. Use 寬 in both formal and informal contexts, such as describing a spacious home or expressing leniency in a situation. Pay attention to pronunciation; it has a first tone, which can be easily mixed with other tones.

HSK Study Tips

While 寬 is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it is useful for learners at HSK 3-4 level as it can be combined with other words to describe spaces or attitudes. Students should focus on recognizing its use in everyday contexts, like in phrases related to architecture or personal qualities.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 寬 with the similar character 宽 (also pronounced kuān), which is a variant form. Ensure to use the correct form in writing, as context may require one over the other.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 寬

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Etymology of 寬

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 寬. Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 萈 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

roof

Semantic (meaning)宀
+
Phonetic (sound)苋
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

寬 = 宀 + 苋. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 寬

IDS Structure⿳宀艹⿻見丶
寬Full Character
=
宀gai4
top
艹cao3
middle
見jian4
outer
丶—
inner
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 寬?

How to say broad, spacious, vast, wide in Chinese

“broad, spacious, vast, wide” in Chinese is寬kuān

The character 寬 (kuān) means broad or wide, often used to describe physical spaces, such as rooms or roads, as well as abstract concepts like tolerance. It conveys a sense of spaciousness and openness, making it applicable in both literal and figurative contexts.

When to use 寬

Common mistakes include confusing 寬 (kuān) with 狭 (xiá), which means narrow. Use 寬 in both formal and informal contexts, such as describing a spacious home or expressing leniency in a situation. Pay attention to pronunciation; it has a first tone, which can be easily mixed with other tones.

寬 or something close to it

宽 (kuān) vs 宽敞 (kuānchǎng) — use 宽 for general width, while 宽敞 emphasizes spaciousness.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 寬 with the similar character 宽 (also pronounced kuān), which is a variant form. Ensure to use the correct form in writing, as context may require one over the other.

Write 寬

寬

Practice writing 寬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 寬

Words Containing This Character20
宽kuānwide寬
宽恕kuānshùto forgive寬恕
宽容kuānrónglenient寬容
宽松kuānsōngrelaxed寬鬆
宽带broadband寬帶
宽敞kuānchangspacious寬敞
拓宽tuòkuānto broaden拓寬
宽大spacious寬大
放宽to relax restrictions放寬
宽度kuāndùwidth寬度
宽广kuānguǎngwide寬廣
宽阔kuānkuòwide寬闊
宽慰to console寬慰
宽裕ample寬裕
宽厚kuānhòutolerant寬厚
宽限to extend (a deadline etc)寬限
从宽lenient從寬
宽衣loose-fitting garment寬衣
宽泛kuānfànwide-ranging寬泛
宽心relieved寬心
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 寬

What does 宽 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 寬

You can say '这间房间很寬' (zhè jiān fángjiān hěn kuān), meaning 'This room is very spacious.'

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