Definitions

kuāng to mislead; to swindle

Etymology phono-semantic

speech

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character (traditional form ) is a phono-semantic compound that pairs the speech radical , a simplification of , with the phonetic . The radical situates the character within the realm of language, communication, and verbal expression, while determines the pronunciation. At its core, means to deceive, cheat, or trick someone through the use of false or misleading words. The character features widely in colloquial verbs and compound terms for hoaxing or bluffing, serving as a vivid example of how spoken language can be weaponized to mislead and exploit the trust of an unsuspecting listener.