Meaning
宽阔 describes physical spaces that are wide, broad, and open, conveying a sense of spaciousness and lack of confinement. It combines 宽 (wide) and 阔 (broad) to emphasize the expansive nature of roads, fields, rooms, or horizons. The word often appears in literary and descriptive contexts to paint a picture of generous, unconfined space.
Usage
Commonly used to describe roads, fields, plazas, rooms, or views that are notably spacious. Often paired with words like 道路 (road), 视野 (field of vision), or 广场 (plaza). While 宽 alone can mean 'wide', 宽阔 emphasizes a more impressive, expansive quality. It's more formal than casual spoken alternatives like 大 (big) or 宽敞 (spacious for indoor areas).
Examples
- 01这条宽阔的大道两旁种满了梧桐树。.This wide boulevard is lined with plane trees on both sides.
- 02站在山顶上，眼前是一片宽阔的草原。, .Standing on the mountaintop, before me lies an expansive grassland.
Characters
Common collocations
- 宽阔的道路wide road
- 宽阔的视野broad field of vision
- 宽阔的广场spacious plaza
- 心胸宽阔broad-minded
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters share the semantic field of breadth and width. 阔 originally depicted a gate (门) with generous space, reinforcing the sense of openness. The combination intensifies the meaning of spaciousness.