Meaning and Usage
"慷慨" primarily means "generous" or "magnanimous," often describing someone who gives freely without hesitation, especially with money or help. It can also describe a passionate or vehement attitude, especially in speech or emotion.
Common Collocations
- 慷慨解囊 (kāngkǎi jiěnáng): to generously donate money
- 慷慨激昂 (kāngkǎi jī'áng): vehement and impassioned (usually about speech or emotion)
Usage Notes
When using 慷慨 to describe generosity, it usually implies a positive, admirable quality of being open-handed. When describing speech or emotion, it conveys strong passion or fervor. Avoid confusing 慷慨 with similar words like 大方 (dàfang), which also means generous but is more neutral and less emotional.
Register and Tone
慷慨 is formal and often used in written or formal spoken Chinese, such as speeches, news reports, or literary contexts.