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March 24, 2026
慷慨kāngkǎi(kang1kai3)
慷慨 (kāng kǎi) describes a person who is generous, open-handed, or magnanimous. It is often used to express someone's willingness to give or share freely, whether in terms of money, time, or support, often in a passionate or enthusiastic manner.
Strokes26Frequency#4191DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 慷慨 is often celebrated in stories of historical figures who exhibited great generosity, such as during charitable events or community support initiatives, reflecting the value placed on communal support and kindness.
Memory Tip
Think of 慷 (kāng) as a 'kangaroo' that generously jumps around giving things away, and 慨 (kǎi) sounds like 'kite,' flying high with a big heart. Picture a kangaroo flying a kite, freely sharing its joy and gifts.
Meanings of 慷慨
kāngkǎi(kang1kai3)
1vehement
2fervent
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 慷慨
慷慨Simplified
26Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#4191Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 慷慨
Podcast: 慷慨
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AI Study Notes for 慷慨
Quick Contrast
大方 (dàfāng) vs 慷慨 (kāngkǎi): Use 大方 for a more casual or everyday sense of generosity, while 慷慨 implies a more passionate or grand gesture of giving.
Usage Notes
慷慨 is typically used in positive contexts, but avoid using it to describe someone who gives out of obligation rather than genuine generosity. Common collocations include 慷慨解囊 (to generously contribute) and 慷慨激昂 (vehemently passionate). Be cautious with the tone, as the second character 慨 should be pronounced with a falling tone.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 慷慨 connects with other words expressing emotions or behaviors, such as 热情 (enthusiasm) and 大方 (generous). Focus on using it in contexts related to philanthropy or emotional expressions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 慷慨 with its synonym 大方 (dà fāng), assuming they are interchangeable in all contexts. However, 慷慨 has a stronger emotional nuance, indicating passionate generosity. For example, saying '他大方给钱' (He generously gives money) could be improved to '他慷慨解囊' to better capture the fervent spirit.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 慷慨
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慷慨 (kāng kǎi) describes a person who is generous, open-handed, or magnanimous. It is often used to express someone's willingness to give or share freely, whether in terms of money, time, or support, often in a passionate or enthusiastic manner.
When to use 慷慨
慷慨 is typically used in positive contexts, but avoid using it to describe someone who gives out of obligation rather than genuine generosity. Common collocations include 慷慨解囊 (to generously contribute) and 慷慨激昂 (vehemently passionate). Be cautious with the tone, as the second character 慨 should be pronounced with a falling tone.
慷慨 or something close to it
大方 (dàfāng) vs 慷慨 (kāngkǎi): Use 大方 for a more casual or everyday sense of generosity, while 慷慨 implies a more passionate or grand gesture of giving.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 慷慨 with its synonym 大方 (dà fāng), assuming they are interchangeable in all contexts. However, 慷慨 has a stronger emotional nuance, indicating passionate generosity. For example, saying '他大方给钱' (He generously gives money) could be improved to '他慷慨解囊' to better capture the fervent spirit.
Write 慷慨
慷
慨
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Grammar Patterns of 慷慨
慷慨 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 5 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____，但也没办法。
It's the wages that count. Not over-generous, but there you are.
