广阔

• Pinyin: guǎng kuò
• Hanzi breakdown: 广 = simplified form of 廣, representing a large building; 阔 = 门 (door) + 活 (live), meaning spacious

Meaning

Vast; extensive; broad. Describing something that covers a large area or scope.

Used for physical spaces (plains, seas, skies) and abstract concepts (prospects, vision, thinking). Common collocations: 广阔的天地 (vast world), 广阔的前景 (broad prospects), 广阔的市场 (vast market). More literary than 宽广, often used in written Chinese and formal speech.

Examples

1. 站在高原上放眼望去，广阔的草原一直延伸到天边。 Standing on the plateau and looking out, the vast grassland stretches all the way to the horizon.
2. 年轻人应该走出去看看，世界是广阔的，机会无处不在。 Young people should go out and see the world — it's vast, and opportunities are everywhere.
3. 中国的内需市场广阔，为企业发展提供了巨大的空间。 China's domestic market is vast, providing enormous space for business development.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, business, philosophy

Tone: elevated

Do Say

• 他拥有广阔的人脉。(He has an extensive network of connections.)
• 这片广阔的土地等待开发。(This vast land awaits development.)

Don't Say

• 形容房间用广阔 (For a room, use 宽敞 rather than 广阔 — 广阔 implies outdoor or large-scale expanses)

Origin & History

Compound of 广 (broad, wide) + 阔 (wide, spacious). Both characters emphasize breadth, creating an intensified sense of vastness.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal