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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#22973DifficultyHard
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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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.
Lupescu scored from 20 yards and then Balint made it 4-
3
但在其他商店纷纷关门倒闭之时，大型超市的强劲扩张势头却依旧不减。
dàn zài qí tā shāng diàn fēn fēn guān mén dǎo bì zhī shí， ， dà xíng chāo shì de qiáng jìn kuò zhāng shì tóu què yī jiù bù。
But as other shops fold, the march of the superstores continues.
4
在过去的17年中，收藏的规模不断扩大。
zài guò qù de17 17 nián， zhōng ， shōu cáng de guī mó bù duàn。
The collection has been built up over the last seventeen years.
5
有关于分子扩散速度的数据。
yǒu guān yú fēn zǐ kuò sàn sù dù de shù jù。
There are data on the rates of diffusion of molecules.
6
在随后的10年中，两个公司的规模扩大为原来的10倍。
zài suí hòu de10 10 nián， zhōng ， liǎng gè gōng sī de guī mó kuò dà wéi yuán10 lái。
The two companies grew tenfold in the ensuing ten years.
7
随着国内业务和国际业务的扩展，该公司将获得更好的机会。
suí zháo guó nèi yè wù hé guó jì yè wù de kuò zhǎn， ， gāi gōng sī jiāng huò dé gēng hǎo de jī。
Opportunities will improve as the company expands domestically and internationally.
8
从那里开始，调查范围迅速扩大，有几人已经被逮捕。
cóng nà lǐ kāi shǐ， ， tiáo chá fàn wéi xùn sù kuò， dà ， yǒu jī rén yǐ jīng bèi。
The investigation snowballed from there and has since led to several arrests.
9
那是对我的方法的合乎逻辑的扩展。
nà shì duì wǒ de fāng fǎ de hé hū luó jí de kuò zhǎn。
That's the logical extension of my approach.
10
她赢得了一笔拨款，用以扩展自己的企业。
tā yíng dé le yī bǐ bō kuǎn， ， yòng yǐ kuò zhǎn zì jǐ de qǐ。
She won a grant to develop her own business.
Cultural Notes for 扩
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 扩
Words Containing This Character16
扩大kuòdàto expand擴大
扩散kuòsànto spread擴散
扩张kuòzhāngexpansion擴張
扩展kuòzhǎnto extend擴展
扩kuòto enlarge擴
扩音器megaphone擴音器
扩建kuòjiànto extend (a building, an airport runway etc)擴建
扩充kuòchōngto expand擴充
扩大化to extend the scope擴大化
扩音机amplifier擴音機
核扩散nuclear proliferation核擴散
扩军armament擴軍
彩扩to enlarge color photos彩擴
扩编to augment擴編
扩版to increase the format of a publication擴版
扩印to print larger擴印
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 扩大 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 扩
You can say '我们需要扩展我们的市场' (Wǒmen xūyào kuòzhǎn wǒmen de shìchǎng), meaning 'We need to expand our market.'
Yes, but it's more common in formal contexts like business discussions than in casual conversations.
扩大 (kuò dà) typically refers to enlarging in size or scope, while 扩展 (kuò zhǎn) often means to expand in terms of reach or influence.
