How to Write 夸 (kuā) — Meaning “to praise / to exaggerate”

Imagine a person (大) stretching a small truth (亏) into a big story by bragging loudly. This visual of a big person blowing up a small thing helps you remember that 夸 means both to praise and to exaggerate.

Write the top part 大 first (horizontal, left-falling, right-falling), then the bottom part 亏 starting with the horizontal stroke. The top 大 should be wide and balanced over the narrower 亏; a common mistake is making the top too small or the bottom too wide.

夸 has the radical 大 on top and 亏 below, while 买 (to buy) has a 乛 (turning stroke) on top and 头 (head) below. 天 (sky/day) is simply 大 with a horizontal line on top — it has no bottom part. Visually, 夸 is taller and has a clear lower component.

夸 appears in words like 夸奖 (to compliment) and 夸张 (exaggeration). It is common in daily conversation when giving praise, but also in warnings like 别自夸 (don't boast), reflecting a cultural value of modesty.

Common words containing 夸 include: 夸奖 (kuā jiǎng) — to praise / to compliment; 夸张 (kuā zhāng) — to exaggerate / hyperbolic; 自夸 (zì kuā) — to boast; to brag.