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Meaning Index

Chinese characters meaning "wide"

Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "wide", including 广 (guǎng), 宽 (kuān), 阔 (kuò). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…

How to Study This Meaning Group

The English word "wide" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 广 (guǎng), 宽 (kuān), 阔 (kuò) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span guǎng, kuān, kuò — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 广 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.

  • 广 guǎngwide; numerous; to spreadUseful words: 广告, 广场
  • 宽 kuānlenient; wide; broadUseful words: 宽广, 宽度
  • 阔 kuòrich; wide; broadUseful words: 广阔, 开阔

Common words for these 3 "wide" characters

Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 广 (guǎng) — so "wide" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.

See each character in a sentence

Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "wide".

广 guǎng — wide; numerous; to spread

这个广场非常大。Zhè ge guǎng chǎng fēi cháng dà.This square is very big.

Common words: 广告 (guǎng gào)、广场 (guǎng chǎng)、广播 (guǎng bō)

kuān — lenient; wide; broad

学校门前有一条宽阔的大路。Xué xiào mén qián yǒu yì tiáo kuān kuò de dà lù.There is a wide road in front of the school.

Common words: 宽广 (kuān guǎng)、宽度 (kuān dù)、宽敞 (kuān chang)

kuò — rich; wide; broad

草原一望无际,十分辽阔。Cǎo yuán yí wàng wú jì, shí fēn liáo kuò.The grassland stretches endlessly and is very vast.

Common words: 广阔 (guǎng kuò)、开阔 (kāi kuò)、宽阔 (kuān kuò)

All 3 characters

Open 广、宽、阔 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.