宏
- great;
- vast;
- grand;
- expansive;
Etymology
A phono-semantic compound:
宀 (roof, house) — semantic component
厷 (arm) — phonetic component
The original image suggests a large space beneath a roof, conveying the idea of spaciousness, magnitude, and breadth. From this concrete spatial meaning, abstract senses such as grand, vast, and magnificent developed.
Usage in Korean
굉장하다 (宏壯하다) — grand; magnificent
웅대한 계획 (宏大한 計劃) — a grand plan
거시적 관점 (宏觀) — macroscopic / broad perspective
The “굉” in 굉장하다 comes directly from 宏.
Words that derived from 宏
Additional notes
宏 is very common in personal names, especially in Chinese, Japanese, Korean (male given names in particular).
Because it conveys:
- breadth of mind
- ambition
- greatness without aggression
It is often chosen for its positive, dignified connotations.
Related characters:
大 — big
洪 — vast; floodlike
偉 — great; outstanding
壯 — grand