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Kotomora

広

wide, broad, spacious

JLPTN4StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 500Strokes5

Readings

On'yomi

  • コウ

Kun'yomi

  • ひろ.い
  • ひろ.まる
  • ひろ.める
  • ひろ.がる
  • ひろ.げる

Meaning

広 centers on physical or metaphorical extent: something wide, broad, or spacious. It describes large open areas and the quality of being expansive.

Most common words using 広

24 of 271
  • 広告こうこく
    N3

    advertisement; advertising

  • 広島ひろしま
    N5

    Hiroshima (city, prefecture)

  • 広いひろい
    N4

    spacious; vast; wide

  • 広がるひろがる
    N3

    to spread (out); to extend; to stretch; to reach to; to get around; to fill (e.g. a space)

  • 広げるひろげる
    N3

    to spread; to extend; to expand; to enlarge; to widen; to broaden

  • 広報こうほう
    N1

    public relations; PR; publicity; public information

  • 広場ひろば
    N3

    public square; square; plaza; piazza; forum

  • 幅広いはばひろい
    N1

    extensive; wide; broad

  • 広がりひろがり

    spread; span; expanse; extent

  • 広まるひろまる
    N2

    to spread; to be propagated

  • 広大こうだい
    N2

    vast; extensive; immense; huge; large; grand; magnificent

  • 広範囲こうはんい

    extensive; vast range; wide scope

  • 広域こういき

    wide area

  • 広めるひろめる
    N2

    to spread; to propagate; to popularize; to disseminate

  • 繰り広げるくりひろげる

    to unfold; to unroll; to open

  • 広まりひろまり

    spread

  • 広範こうはん

    wide; extensive; comprehensive; far-reaching; widespread

  • 広東カントン

    Guangdong (China); Kwangtung

  • 広州こうしゅう

    Guangzhou (China); Canton

  • 末広すえひろ

    spreading out like an open fan

  • 背広せびろ
    N5

    business suit

  • 広々ひろびろ
    N2

    extensive; spacious

  • 広葉樹こうようじゅ

    broadleaf tree; broad-leaved tree

  • 広さひろさ
    N2

    area; extent; dimensions; size

Explore all words using 広 →

Study

Etymology

広 is the modern simplified form of 廣. The older form combines 广 (building) with 黄, which likely contributed the sound and helped express spaciousness. The modern 厶 inside is a simplification.

Meaning mnemonic

The outer 广 suggests a building, and the inner 厶 looks like a wide-open space inside. Picture a spacious hall with high ceilings.

Reading mnemonic

For コウ, imagine a wide-open field where you can call out 'coo!' and hear it echo: coo -> コウ, filling the broad space.