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扩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
扩
kuò
enlarge
HSK 7, v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #22973, Very Hard
扩
kuò
to expand, to stretch, to magnify
HSK 7, v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #22973, Very Hard
kuò(kuo4)kuo T4
1enlarge
2to expand, to stretch, to magnify
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March 24, 2026
扩(擴)kuò(kuo4)
The character 扩 (kuò) means to enlarge, expand, or stretch something. It is commonly used in contexts such as expanding business operations, enlarging physical spaces, or increasing quantities. This term can convey both physical and abstract forms of expansion.
Strokes6Radical扌Frequency#22973DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In business contexts, the term 扩大 is often linked with the rapid expansion of companies in China's booming economy, reflecting the dynamic growth in various sectors. This concept is integral to understanding modern Chinese entrepreneurship.
Memory tip
Imagine a big 'kuo' (crow) spreading its wings wide to 'expand' its reach. The character 扩 has the radical 扌 (hand) suggesting action, and the rest of the character hints at the idea of stretching out. Picture the crow's wings as a way to remember both the sound and meaning.
Meanings of 扩
kuò(kuo4)
1enlarge
2to expand, to stretch, to magnify
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 扩 means.
About 扩
扩Simplified
擴Traditional
6Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#22973Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 扩
Podcast: 扩
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AI study notes for 扩
Quick Contrast
扩 (kuò) vs 增 (zēng) — use 扩 when emphasizing the act of enlarging or stretching something, while 增 focuses on increasing quantity or number.
Usage Notes
When using 扩, be mindful of its context; it is more formal and often used in written Chinese. Common collocations include 扩大 (kuò dà, to enlarge) and 扩展 (kuò zhǎn, to expand). Avoid confusion with similar-sounding words by paying attention to tones.
HSK Study Tips
While 扩 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it relates to HSK Level 3 words like 大 (dà, big) and 小 (xiǎo, small), as it involves sizes. Focus on recognizing its use in compound phrases to strengthen your understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 扩 with similar characters like 夸 (kuā, to boast) due to phonetic similarity. Ensure you're using the right character based on the context of expansion, not boasting.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 扩
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 扩 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
扩 = 广 + 扌. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 扩
IDS Structure⿰扌广
扩Full character
=
扌shou3
left
广Guang3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 扩?
How to say enlarge in Chinese
“enlarge” in Chinese is扩kuò
The character 扩 (kuò) means to enlarge, expand, or stretch something. It is commonly used in contexts such as expanding business operations, enlarging physical spaces, or increasing quantities. This term can convey both physical and abstract forms of expansion.
When to use 扩
When using 扩, be mindful of its context; it is more formal and often used in written Chinese. Common collocations include 扩大 (kuò dà, to enlarge) and 扩展 (kuò zhǎn, to expand). Avoid confusion with similar-sounding words by paying attention to tones.
扩 or something close to it
扩 (kuò) vs 增 (zēng) — use 扩 when emphasizing the act of enlarging or stretching something, while 增 focuses on increasing quantity or number.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 扩 with similar characters like 夸 (kuā, to boast) due to phonetic similarity. Ensure you're using the right character based on the context of expansion, not boasting.
Write 扩
扩
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Practice writing 扩 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 扩
扩 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 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.
