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) 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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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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Phonosemantic compound. 广 represents the meaning and 扌 represents the sound. Simplified form of 擴.
1The meaning half广 carries the sense.
2The sound half扌 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywide
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 扩? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 扩?
Decomposition of 扩
IDS Structure⿰扌广
扩Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
广Guang3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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.
