kuādà: 夸大 - To Exaggerate, Overstate, Inflate

• Keywords: 夸大, kuada, Chinese exaggerate, overstate in Chinese, Chinese hyperbole, meaning of kuada, 夸大其词, how to say exaggerate in Chinese, blow out of proportion, Chinese for overstate
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 夸大 (kuādà), which means “to exaggerate,” “overstate,” or “inflate.” This page provides a deep dive into its meaning, character breakdown, cultural context, and practical usage. Understand why this term often carries a negative connotation in Chinese culture and learn how to use it accurately in everyday conversation with over 10 example sentences and analysis.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kuādà
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To make something seem larger, more important, better, or worse than it really is.
• In a Nutshell: 夸大 (kuādà) is the act of “blowing things out of proportion.” It's taking a kernel of truth and stretching it, often to the point of being misleading. It's almost always used to criticize or point out that someone's statement, claim, or story doesn't quite match the reality.

• 夸 (kuā): This character originally depicted a person striding with big steps. It has evolved to mean “to boast,” “to brag,” or “to praise.” Think of someone puffing out their chest with pride.
• 大 (dà): One of the simplest characters, a pictograph of a person with their arms stretched wide to signify “big,” “large,” or “great.”

When combined, 夸大 (kuādà) literally means “to boast big” or “to praise big.” This combination perfectly captures the modern meaning of taking a fact and making it much bigger through words.

In Chinese culture, values like modesty (谦虚 qiānxū) and seeking truth from facts (实事求是 shíshìqiúshì) are highly esteemed. As a result, 夸大 (kuādà) often carries a stronger negative weight than its English counterpart, “to exaggerate.” While in English, “hyperbole” can be a neutral literary device used for creative effect or humor, 夸大 is rarely seen in a positive light. It implies a departure from the truth that can be perceived as insincere, unreliable, or even a deliberate attempt to mislead. Accusing someone of 夸大 can be a way of saying they are untrustworthy or trying to gain an unfair advantage. It can cause a person to lose social standing or “face” (面子 miànzi) if their exaggeration is exposed. The act of 夸大 is the direct opposite of the valued trait of being down-to-earth and pragmatic.

夸大 is a common word used in various contexts, from casual chats to formal reports.

• Media and Advertising: It's frequently used to criticize sensationalist news headlines or advertisements that over-promise results. A common phrase is 夸大其词 (kuādàqící), an idiom meaning “to use exaggerated words.”
• Business and Work: You might hear this term used to describe inflated sales projections, an embellished resume, or a report that magnifies the significance of minor achievements.
• Daily Conversation: People use it to call out friends for telling a “tall tale” or overstating the difficulty of a task. Saying something is 有点夸大 (yǒudiǎn kuādà), or “a bit exaggerated,” is a common, slightly softer way to express skepticism.
• Connotation: The connotation is almost always negative or critical. It's a word you use to describe someone else's speech or claims, not usually your own.

• Example 1:
  • 这个新闻标题有点夸大事实。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xīnwén biāotí yǒudiǎn kuādà shìshí.
  • English: This news headline exaggerates the facts a bit.
  • Analysis: A very common use case. The phrase 有点 (yǒudiǎn) softens the criticism, making it sound more like a gentle correction than a harsh accusation.
• Example 2:
  • 他总是喜欢夸大自己的成就。
  • Pinyin: Tā zǒngshì xǐhuān kuādà zìjǐ de chéngjiù.
  • English: He always likes to exaggerate his accomplishments.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes a person's character trait. It carries a clear negative judgment about their tendency to brag.
• Example 3:
  • 广告里总是夸大产品的效果。
  • Pinyin: Guǎnggào lǐ zǒngshì kuādà chǎnpǐn de xiàoguǒ.
  • English: Advertisements always exaggerate the product's effects.
  • Analysis: This points out a generally accepted “truth” about advertising, using 夸大 to mean over-promising or inflating claims.
• Example 4:
  • 你别夸大问题的严重性，我们能解决。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bié kuādà wèntí de yánzhòngxìng, wǒmen néng jiějué.
  • English: Don't exaggerate the severity of the problem; we can solve it.
  • Analysis: Here, 夸大 is used in a command with 别 (bié), urging someone to be more realistic and less dramatic.
• Example 5:
  • 我觉得他说自己会五种语言有点夸大。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ juéde tā shuō zìjǐ huì wǔ zhǒng yǔyán yǒudiǎn kuādà.
  • English: I think his claim that he can speak five languages is a bit of an exaggeration.
  • Analysis: A great example of expressing doubt or skepticism about someone's claim in a polite way.
• Example 6:
  • 这篇报道夸大了风险，引起了不必要的恐慌。
  • Pinyin: Zhè piān bàodào kuādà le fēngxiǎn, yǐnqǐ le bù bìyào de kǒnghuāng.
  • English: This report exaggerated the risks, causing unnecessary panic.
  • Analysis: This shows the real-world consequences of exaggeration. It's used here in a more formal, analytical context.
• Example 7:
  • 他只是轻微擦伤，却夸大伤情说自己快不行了。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhǐshì qīngwēi cāshāng, què kuādà shāngqíng shuō zìjǐ kuài bùxíng le.
  • English: He only had a minor scrape, but he exaggerated the injury, saying he was about to die.
  • Analysis: This example highlights the dramatic and sometimes comical nature of exaggeration in personal stories.
• Example 8:
  • 他的描述有些夸大，那里的风景其实没那么壮观。
  • Pinyin: Tā de miáoshù yǒuxiē kuādà, nàlǐ de fēngjǐng qíshí méi nàme zhuàngguān.
  • English: His description was somewhat exaggerated; the scenery there wasn't actually that spectacular.
  • Analysis: Used to gently correct someone's overly enthusiastic description of a place or experience.
• Example 9:
  • 我们在做计划时，必须避免夸大预期收入。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zài zuò jìhuà shí, bìxū bìmiǎn kuādà yùqī shōurù.
  • English: When we are making a plan, we must avoid exaggerating the expected income.
  • Analysis: A formal business context where being precise and avoiding exaggeration is crucial for success.
• Example 10:
  • 这不是夸大，我真的亲眼看到了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bùshì kuādà, wǒ zhēn de qīnyǎn kàndào le.
  • English: This isn't an exaggeration, I really saw it with my own eyes.
  • Analysis: A defensive use of the word, used to insist that what you're saying is the literal truth, anticipating that others might find it hard to believe.

• `夸大 (kuādà)` vs. `吹牛 (chuīniú)`: This is a key distinction.
  • 夸大 (kuādà) is stretching an existing truth. If a fish was 5 pounds and you say it was 10, that's 夸大.
  • 吹牛 (chuīniú), literally “to blow up a cow,” is more about pure bragging, boasting, or making things up entirely, often about one's own abilities. It's more informal. If you say you caught a fish the size of a whale, that's 吹牛.

• `夸大 (kuādà)` vs. `夸奖 (kuājiǎng)` (To Praise): Learners often get confused because both words contain 夸 (kuā).
• Correct: 他夸大了事实。 (Tā kuādà le shìshí.) - He exaggerated the facts.
• Correct: 老师夸奖了我。 (Lǎoshī kuājiǎng le wǒ.) - The teacher praised me.
• Incorrect: 老师夸大我。 (Lǎoshī kuādà wǒ.) - This is a common mistake. Remember that 夸大 is used on a thing, a fact, or a situation, not directly on a person to mean “praise”.

• 夸张 (kuāzhāng) - Exaggerated, overstated (adjective). Very similar to `夸大` but more often used to describe a style, expression, or appearance (e.g., an exaggerated facial expression, `夸张的表情`).
• 吹牛 (chuīniú) - To brag, boast. More informal and often involves making up fantastic stories about oneself.
• 夸大其词 (kuādàqící) - A Chengyu (idiom) meaning “to exaggerate one's words” or “to lay it on thick.” A more formal way to say `夸大`.
• 言过其实 (yánguòqíshí) - A Chengyu meaning “one's words exceed the reality.” A very formal synonym for `夸大`.
• 浮夸 (fúkuā) - Pompous, ostentatious, extravagant. Describes a style or personality that is flashy and without substance.
• 谦虚 (qiānxū) - Antonym: modest, humble. The cultural ideal that stands in direct opposition to `夸大`.
• 实事求是 (shíshìqiúshì) - A Chengyu meaning “to seek truth from facts.” A core Chinese value emphasizing pragmatism and accuracy, the opposite of the mindset behind `夸大`.
• 夸奖 (kuājiǎng) - To praise, to commend. Shares the character `夸` but has a completely different, positive meaning.