慷慨 kāngkǎi vehement
vehement; fervent; generous; magnanimous
How to remember 慷慨: 慷 ardent + 慨 sigh = vehement.
Characters
How it is used
- Two senses: (1) generous/open-handed - 慷慨解囊 (kāngkǎi jiěnáng) to give generously; (2) fervent/impassioned - 慷慨激昂 (kāngkǎi jī'áng) worked up and full of fervor.
- For 'generous', it's warmer and more admiring than plain 大方 (dàfang); implies giving freely without stinting.
- Watch the tone: 慷慨 alone usually means generous, but 慷慨激昂 refers to stirring, spirited speech.
Example sentences
- 大自然很慷慨。 Dàzìrán hěn kāngkǎi.Mother Nature is generous.