扩大
kuòdà · HSK 4
expand
📈 扩大 = 扩 (extend) + 大 (big) → make bigger
扩 means to extend or widen; 大 means big or large. Together they literally mean extend-big, i.e. enlarge or expand. The compound logic is transparent: take something and stretch it out to a bigger size.
扩 — hand radical 扌 + 广 (kuàng/guǎng, wide)
扩 is the simplified form of 擴. It is a semantic-phonetic compound: the hand radical 扌 suggests the action of pushing or stretching, while 广 hints at the sound and the idea of wideness. Together they convey 'to extend' or 'to expand'.
大 — pictograph of a person with arms outstretched
大 is a pictograph showing a person standing with arms and legs spread wide. The outstretched arms suggest 'big' or 'great', extending from the literal image of a large stance to abstract meanings like important or grand. It is one of the oldest characters, found on oracle bones.