寛大

• Reading: かんだい
• Romaji: kandai
• Kanji breakdown: 寛 (kan) — broad, generous, tolerant; 大 (dai) — large, great
• Pronunciation: /ka.ɴ.da.i/

Meaning

Tolerant; generous; lenient; broad-minded. Having a magnanimous disposition.

A na-adjective describing a generous, forgiving attitude. Used for people who overlook faults (寛大な心 — a tolerant heart) or for lenient treatment (寛大な処分 — lenient punishment). Common in formal and semi-formal contexts such as legal, educational, and interpersonal discussions.

Examples

1. 彼女は失敗に対して寛大な態度を見せた。 She showed a tolerant attitude toward failure.
2. 上司の寛大な判断のおかげで助かった。 I was saved thanks to my boss's lenient judgment.
3. 子供の過ちには寛大であるべきだと思う。 I think we should be lenient toward children's mistakes.

Usage Guide

Context: interpersonal, legal, education, character description

Tone: respectful

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 寛 (kan, broad/spacious/generous) + 大 (dai, large/great). The combination of 'broad' and 'great' conveys an expansive, magnanimous spirit that does not hold grudges.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal