Definitions

kuà (verb) to step across; to stride over
kuà (verb) to straddle; to span

Etymology phono-semantic

foot

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "跨" is structurally composed of the semantic radical "足", which relates to the foot, and the phonetic component "夸", guiding its pronunciation, together conveying the fundamental idea of a stepping action. Its original usage centered on the physical act of striding across or over a tangible barrier, such as a ditch or a doorstep. From this concrete foundation, the meaning progressively expanded to incorporate abstract and figurative dimensions, allowing the character to denote the bridging of conceptual divides, the integration of separate disciplines, or the spanning of temporal gaps. Consequently, while its graphical form has persisted without alteration, the semantic scope of "跨" has shifted from denoting solely bodily movement to encompassing a wide range of transitional and integrative processes.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

孩子过小水沟。

Háizi kuà guò xiǎo shuǐgōu.

The child stepped over the small ditch.

我们越这座桥。

Wǒmen kuàyuè zhè zuò qiáo.

We cross this bridge.

行业合作很重要。

Kuà hángyè hézuò hěn zhòngyào.

Cross-industry cooperation is very important.

这部电影越了三十年。

Zhè bù diànyǐng kuàyuèle sānshí nián.

This movie spans thirty years.

文化沟通需要技巧。

Kuà wénhuà gōutōng xūyào jìqiǎo.

Cross-cultural communication requires skills.

这个软件是平台的。

Zhège ruǎnjiàn shì kuà píngtái de.

This software is cross-platform.

研究项目涉及学科知识。

Yánjiū xiàngmù shèjí kuà xuékē zhīshì.

The research project involves interdisciplinary knowledge.

国公司必须适应本地市场。

Kuàguó gōngsī bìxū shìyìng běndì shìchǎng.

Multinational companies must adapt to local markets.