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誇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
誇kuāextravagant, luxurious; handsomex, 13 strokes, radical 言
kuā(kua1) T1
  1. 1extravagant, luxurious; handsome
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March 24, 2026

誇kuā(kua1)

The character 誇 (kuā) refers to something extravagant or luxurious, often used to describe excessive praise or showcasing of beauty and value. It can also imply handsomeness, particularly in a way that stands out or is ostentatious.

Strokes13Radical言
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, extravagance can be viewed with mixed feelings; while luxury is often admired, excessive ostentation may be frowned upon, reflecting a balance between modesty and pride in accomplishments.

Memory Tip

Imagine a peacock (the radical 語 represents speech) displaying its extravagant feathers, boasting about its beauty. The sound 'kuā' can remind you of the sound of admiration people make when they see something stunning.

Meanings of 誇

kuā(kua1)
1extravagant, luxurious; handsome
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 誇

誇Simplified
13Strokes
言Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 誇

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Podcast: 誇

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AI Study Notes for 誇

Quick Contrast

夸 (kuā) vs 赞 (zàn) — use 誇 (kuā) for extravagant or ostentatious praise, while 赞 (zàn) is more about general approval or admiration.

Usage Notes

This term is often used in informal contexts to describe things that are overly showy. Be careful not to confuse it with words that imply genuine beauty or quality, as 'kuā' can sometimes carry a negative connotation of being flashy or insincere.

HSK Study Tips

Although not an HSK word, it connects to other words describing appearance or quality. Focus on understanding its usage in adjectives that describe luxury or beauty, enhancing your vocabulary for expressing opinions.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 誇 (kuā) with 誇獎 (kuājiǎng, to praise), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember, 誇 emphasizes extravagance, while 誇獎 specifically means to give praise.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 誇

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Etymology of 誇

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Extravagant 夸 words 言; 夸 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 誇?

Decomposition of 誇

IDS Structure⿰言夸
誇Full Character
=
言yan2
left
夸kua1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 誇?

How to say extravagant, luxurious; handsome in Chinese

“extravagant, luxurious; handsome” in Chinese is誇kuā

The character 誇 (kuā) refers to something extravagant or luxurious, often used to describe excessive praise or showcasing of beauty and value. It can also imply handsomeness, particularly in a way that stands out or is ostentatious.

When to use 誇

This term is often used in informal contexts to describe things that are overly showy. Be careful not to confuse it with words that imply genuine beauty or quality, as 'kuā' can sometimes carry a negative connotation of being flashy or insincere.

誇 or something close to it

夸 (kuā) vs 赞 (zàn) — use 誇 (kuā) for extravagant or ostentatious praise, while 赞 (zàn) is more about general approval or admiration.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 誇 (kuā) with 誇獎 (kuājiǎng, to praise), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember, 誇 emphasizes extravagance, while 誇獎 specifically means to give praise.

Write 誇

誇

Practice writing 誇 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 誇

Words Containing This Character15
夸张kuāzhāngto exaggerate誇張
夸kuāto boast誇
夸奖kuājiǎngto praise誇獎
夸大kuādàto exaggerate誇大
浮夸to exaggerate浮誇
夸耀kuāyàoto brag about誇耀
夸大其词to exaggerate誇大其詞
夸夸其谈kuākuāqítánto talk big誇誇其談
自夸to boast自誇
夸赞to praise誇贊
夸口to boast誇口
夸克quark (particle physics) (loanword)
虚夸to boast虛誇
夸下海口to boast誇下海口
夸海口to boast誇海口
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 誇

What does 夸张 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 誇

No, 誇 can also describe extravagant items or behaviors, not just physical appearance.

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