阔

濶/闊

kuò

活 + 门

Definitions

kuò (adjective) wide; broad

kuò (adjective) rich; wealthy

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 门 represents the meaning and 活 represents the sound. Simplified form of 闊.

Semantic: 门 Phonetic: 活

About

阔 is the simplified form of the traditional character 闊. It is a phonosemantic compound in which the radical 门 (門 in traditional), meaning 'door' or 'gate,' serves as the semantic component, evoking an opening or spatial boundary that conveys the concept of width. The internal component 活 functions as the phonetic indicator. The character primarily denotes width, broadness, or a vast expanse, and it is used to describe physical spaces that are open, expansive, and free of narrow constraints. These spatial meanings extend into abstract domains: it can describe a person's broad-mindedness, an extensive scope of knowledge, a wealthy or extravagant lifestyle, or the lengthy passage of time in a separation.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这条河很宽阔。

Zhè tiáo hé hěn kuānkuò.

This river is very wide.

他家的房子真阔气。

Tā jiā de fángzi zhēn kuòqì.

His house is really luxurious.

我们走在广阔的原野上。

Wǒmen zǒu zài guǎngkuò de yuányě shàng.

We are walking on the vast plain.

阔步向前走，不要害怕。

Kuòbù xiàng qián zǒu, bùyào hàipà.

Stride forward, don't be afraid.

这片开阔地适合建公园。

Zhè piàn kāikuò dì shìhé jiàn gōngyuán.

This open land is suitable for building a park.

他阔别家乡已经十年了。

Tā kuòbié jiāxiāng yǐjīng shí nián le.

He has been away from his hometown for ten years.

他的生活方式非常阔绰。

Tā de shēnghuó fāngshì fēicháng kuòchuò.

His lifestyle is very affluent.

热带雨林中有很多阔叶树。

Rèdài yǔlín zhōng yǒu hěn duō kuòyè shù.

There are many broad-leaved trees in the tropical rainforest.

Related Characters

Component: 活

Component: 门

阔