Chinese word

夸

Pronunciation

Pinyinkuā

Meaning

  • verbpraise

Example

老师在班上夸他学得快。lǎo shī zài bān shàng kuā tā xué de kuài

The teacher praised him in class for learning quickly.

Illustration for 夸 (praise)

More examples

父母在家经常夸孩子的努力。fù mǔ zài jiā jīng cháng kuā hái zi de nǔ lì

At home, parents often praise their child's efforts.

Core concept

Use words to make a person's good quality or an achievement stand out, sometimes making it seem larger than it is.

Common phrases

  • 夸别人kuā bié rén

    praise others

  • 被夸赞bèi kuā zàn

    be praised

  • 夸他的优点kuā tā de yōu diǎn

    praise his strengths

Similar words

表扬biǎo yáng: Commend a person's actions or results as recognition of their merit.
夸奖kuā jiǎng: Praise someone's actions or abilities with direct, spoken approval.
赞扬zàn yáng: Praise a good quality or action while expressing high regard for it.
赞美zàn měi: Praise a person's merits or actions in beautiful, elevated language.

Definition in Chinese

用语言称赞他人的优点或成就，有时带有夸张成分，也可表示自夸或夸大事实。yòng yǔ yán chēng zàn tā rén de yōu diǎn huò chéng jiù yǒu shí dài yǒu kuā zhāng chéng fèn yě kě biǎo shì zì kuā huò kuā dà shì shí

Word origin

夸 (kuā, "to praise or exaggerate") has long been linked with making someone or something seem greater in words, which connects warm approval with overstatement.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 被夸 (bèi kuā, "be praised") puts the person receiving positive comments in focus, which is useful when the listener matters more than the comment itself.

Other meanings

  • exaggerateverb
  • show offverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word