How to Write 慷 (kāng) — Meaning “generous; noble-minded”

Think of 'Kang' as a 'king' who is generous from his heart. Imagine a king giving away coins while smiling, and the heart on the left reminds you he gives with kindness.

Write the left radical 忄 first: two dots from top to bottom, then a vertical line. The right side 康 has many horizontal strokes; keep them parallel and evenly spaced. A common mistake is making the left radical too wide — it should be narrow so the whole character stays balanced.

All three share the heart radical, but the right side differs. 慷 uses 康, which looks like 广 on top and 隶 below. 惰 uses 隋 (with 阝 and 月), meaning lazy. 惴 uses 耑 (like 山 and 而), meaning anxious. Focusing on the right part helps you remember the meaning.

慷 appears mostly in the word 慷慨, meaning generous or unselfish. It is used in praise of people who give freely or speak passionately, such as in 慷慨大方 (very generous) or 慷慨陈词 (to speak with fervor). It is a formal, positive term often found in writing and speeches.

Common words containing 慷 include: 慷慨 (kāng kǎi) — generous; magnanimous; 慷慨大方 (kāng kǎi dà fāng) — very generous; open-handed; 慷慨陈词 (kāng kǎi chén cí) — to speak with fervor; to make a passionate speech.