1. Character Basics
2. Pronunciation
3. Meaning
- Wide, broad, spacious
- Loose (of clothing)
- Lenient, tolerant
- To widen, broaden
- Generous, magnanimous
4. Common Words
5. Grammar & Usage
The character "宽" is primarily used as an adjective to describe something that has a large width or is spacious. It can also be used to describe a person's character as being tolerant or generous.
这条河很宽。(Zhè tiáo hé hěn kuān.) - This river is very wide.
这条马路的宽度是二十米。(Zhè tiáo mǎlù de kuāndù shì èrshí mǐ.) - The width of this road is 20 meters.
这个房间很宽敞。(Zhège fángjiān hěn kuānchǎng.) - This room is very spacious.
他对学生很宽容。(Tā duì xuéshēng hěn kuānróng.) - He is very lenient with his students.
6. Cultural Background
The character "宽" consists of "宀" (mián, roof) and "苋" (xiàn). Originally meaning "spacious house", it later extended to mean "wide" or "broad" in general.
In Chinese culture, the concept of "宽" (tolerance) is highly valued. The virtue of being lenient and magnanimous towards others is an important part of traditional Chinese ethics. Phrases like "宽以待人" (kuān yǐ dài rén) - be lenient with others - reflect this cultural value.
Additionally, the character "宽" is often used in architectural terms to describe spaces that are grand and open, which is a common feature in traditional Chinese architecture.
7. Example Sentence
这座桥宽五十米，可以同时通过很多车辆。
This bridge is 50 meters wide and can accommodate many vehicles at the same time.
8. Memory Tips
To remember the character "宽", look at its structure: it has "宀" (mián, roof) on top, which suggests something related to a house or shelter. The lower part can be associated with "苋" (xiàn, a type of vegetable), but it's easier to think of the whole character representing a spacious or wide area under a roof.
Another memory aid is to connect "宽" with the concept of "宽阔的道路" (kuānkuò de dàolù) - a wide road - which can help you visualize the meaning while remembering the character.