Definitions

kǎi joyful; kind

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 恺, conveying joy, happiness, and kindness, is a phono-semantic compound. The left-side radical 忄, a variant of 心 (heart), provides the semantic category of emotion and mental states. The right-side component 岂 acts as the phonetic element; in its traditional form 愷, this appears as the more complex 豈. Historically, the meaning expanded from general happiness to also denote celebratory or triumphant music played for a victorious army returning home, linking it strongly to martial success and public rejoicing alongside its psychological sense.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

文喜欢看书。

Kǎiwén xǐhuān kànshū.

Kaiwen likes reading books.

乐今天很开心。

Kǎilè jīntiān hěn kāixīn.

Kaile is very happy today.

在公园里玩。

Kǎikai zài gōngyuán lǐ wán.

Kaikai is playing in the park.

获得了比赛冠军。

Zhāng Kǎi huòdé le bǐsài guànjūn.

Zhang Kai won the championship.

文的学习成绩很好。

Kǎiwén de xuéxí chéngjì hěn hǎo.

Kaiwen's academic performance is very good.

乐在音乐会上弹钢琴。

Kǎilè zài yīnyuèhuì shàng tán gāngqín.

Kaile played piano at the concert.

悌之风让人感到温暖。

Kǎitì zhī fēng ràng rén gǎndào wēnnuǎn.

The ethos of kindness and amiability makes people feel warm.

在当今社会,悌的精神尤为需要。

Zài dāngjīn shèhuì, kǎitì de jīngshén yóuwéi xūyào.

In today's society, the spirit of kindness and amiability is especially needed.