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宽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
宽kuānsurname KuanHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 宀, rank #4760, Medium
宽kuānlenientHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 宀, rank #4760, Medium
宽kuānwideHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 宀, rank #4760, Medium
宽kuānbroadHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 宀, rank #4760, Medium
宽kuānbroad, spacious, vast, wideHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 宀, rank #4760, Medium
kuān(kuan1) T1
  1. 1lenient
  2. 2wide
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
宽(寬)kuān(kuan1)

The character 宽 (kuān) primarily means 'wide' or 'broad,' and can refer to physical dimensions, such as the width of an object, or metaphorically, such as a lenient attitude. It is often used in contexts that describe spaciousness or generosity in terms of feelings and attitudes.

Strokes10Radical宀Frequency#4760DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of being 宽容 (kuānróng, lenient) is highly valued, especially in interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution. It reflects a societal emphasis on harmony and understanding.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wide, open space (宽) that feels spacious and liberating. The character's components suggest openness: the top part (宀) represents a roof, hinting at shelter and comfort, while the bottom part (宽) resembles a wide expanse below it. Picture a large, inviting room under a roof that makes you feel relaxed.

Meanings of 宽

kuān(kuan1)
1lenient
2wide
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 宽

宽Simplified
寬Traditional
10Strokes
宀Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#4760Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 宽

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Podcast: 宽

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AI Study Notes for 宽

Quick Contrast

宽 (kuān) vs 广 (guǎng) — use 宽 for physical width or metaphorical leniency, while 广 refers to breadth in terms of extent or range.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a wide, open space (宽) that feels spacious and liberating. The character's components suggest openness: the top part (宀) represents a roof, hinting at shelter and comfort, while the bottom part (宽) resembles a wide expanse below it. Picture a large, inviting room under a roof that makes you feel relaxed.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 宽 (kuān) with 窄 (zhǎi), which means 'narrow.' 宽 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, so it is versatile. Common collocations include 宽敞 (kuānchǎng, spacious) and 宽容 (kuānróng, lenient).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 5 word, 宽 connects with other vocabulary related to space and dimensions, such as 大 (dà, big) and 小 (xiǎo, small). Students should focus on using 宽 in both physical descriptions and abstract concepts, such as in attitudes or policies.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of being 宽容 (kuānróng, lenient) is highly valued, especially in interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution. It reflects a societal emphasis on harmony and understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 宽 with its antonym 窄, leading to sentences like '这个房间很宽' (This room is narrow) instead of '这个房间很窄.' Always double-check the context to ensure correct usage.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 宽

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Etymology of 宽

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 寬. Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 萈 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

roof

Semantic (meaning)宀
+
Phonetic (sound)苋
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 宽?

Decomposition of 宽

IDS Structure⿱宀苋
宽Full Character
=
宀gai4
top
苋xian4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 宽?

Write 宽

宽

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 宽

宽 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons3
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

这条河有一百米____。

This river is a hundred meters wide.

Common Confusions with 宽

宽vs款
kuǎn

Commonly confused due to similar appearance.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "lenient"?

or

Example Sentences for 宽 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我把最后两指宽的波旁威士忌都倒进自己杯中。

wǒ bǎ zuì hòu liǎng zhǐ kuān de bō páng wēi shì jì dū dǎo jìn zì jǐ bēi zhōng。

I poured two final fingers of bourbon into my glass.
2
“沙锥鸟”战斗机的驾驶舱空间不太宽敞。

“ “ shā zhuī” niǎo ” zhàn dǒu jī de jià shǐ cāng kōng jiān bù tài。

There was not much elbow room in the cockpit of a Snipe.
3
宽阔的马路被缓慢前行的车辆堵得严严实实。

kuān kuò de mǎ lù bèi huǎn màn qián háng de chē liàng dǔ dé yán yán shí shí。

The wide road was blocked solid with traffic that moved along sluggishly.
4
12英寸左右的宽度绝对是你应考虑的最低值。

12 12 yīng cùn zuǒ yòu de kuān dù jué duì shì nǐ yīng kǎo lǜ de zuì dī。

About 12 inches wide is the absolute minimum you should consider.
5
他可能过于保守，而不是过于宽宏大量。

tā kě néng guò yú bǎo shǒu， ， ér bù shì guò yú kuān hóng dà。

He probably erred on the conservative rather than the generous side.
6
分配给他们的房子舒适宽敞，并配齐了工作人员。

fēn pèi gěi tā mén de fáng zǐ shū shì kuān chǎng， ， bìng pèi qí le gōng zuò rén。

The house allocated to them was pleasant and spacious, and well-staffed.
7
洛斯特里弗的这片水域又宽又深。

luò sī tè lǐ fú de zhè piàn shuǐ yù yòu kuān yòu shēn。

This stretch of Lost River was broader and deeper.
8
爸爸在法国的公寓远不如这处宽敞。

bà bà zài fǎ guó de gōng yù yuǎn bù rú zhè chǔ kuān chǎng。

Father's flat in Paris wasn't nearly as grand as this.
9
这条路增加了停车区后宽度缩减到了18英尺。

zhè tiáo lù zēng jiā le tíng chē qū hòu kuān dù suō jiǎn dào le18 18 yīng。

The road was reduced to 18ft in width by adding parking bays.
10
悬吊的屋顶下是一条宽阔的游廊。

xuán diào de wū dǐng xià shì yī tiáo kuān kuò de yóu láng。

There is a wide veranda under the overhang of the roof.

Cultural Notes for 宽

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of being 宽容 (kuānróng, lenient) is highly valued, especially in interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution. It reflects a societal emphasis on harmony and understanding.

Word Family of 宽

Compounds1
髋kuan1hip, pelvis
Words Containing This Character20
宽kuānwide寬
宽恕kuānshùto forgive寬恕
宽容kuānrónglenient寬容
宽松kuānsōngrelaxed寬鬆
宽带broadband寬帶
宽敞kuānchangspacious寬敞
拓宽tuòkuānto broaden拓寬
宽大spacious寬大
放宽to relax restrictions放寬
宽度kuāndùwidth寬度
宽广kuānguǎngwide寬廣
宽阔kuānkuòwide寬闊
宽慰to console寬慰
宽裕ample寬裕
宽厚kuānhòutolerant寬厚
宽限to extend (a deadline etc)寬限
从宽lenient從寬
宽衣loose-fitting garment寬衣
宽泛kuānfànwide-ranging寬泛
宽心relieved寬心
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 髋 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 宽

You can say 宽敞的房间 (kuānchǎng de fángjiān) to mean 'a spacious room'.