adjective / noun HSK 5
healthy · well-being · peace · prosperity
Meaning
康 means healthy, peaceful, or prosperous. It carries connotations of physical health, mental well-being, and overall flourishing. The character is most commonly seen in compounds rather than used alone in modern Chinese.
Usage
康 rarely appears by itself in everyday speech. It's primarily found in formal compounds like 健康 (health), 康复 (recovery), or names. When used alone, it appears in literary contexts or classical expressions wishing someone good health and prosperity.
Examples
- 01祝您身体康健，万事如意。, .Wishing you good health and all the best.
- 02他康复得很快，现在已经出院了。, .He recovered quickly and has already been discharged from the hospital.
Common collocations
- 身体康健in good health
- 康庄大道broad road to success
Antonyms
Origin
The character 康 originally depicted a threshing floor with grain, symbolizing abundance and prosperity. Over time, its meaning extended to include health and well-being, as prosperity was closely linked to physical wellness in agricultural societies.