慷慨激昂
kāng kǎi jī áng
impassioned, fervent (of speech or feeling)
Character by character
慷kāng
ardent
ardent
慨kǎi
stirred
stirred
激jī
roused
roused
昂áng
high
high
Example
他在会上慷慨激昂地讲了半个小时，台下掌声不断。
He spoke with great passion for half an hour, and the audience kept breaking into applause.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Here 慷慨 means “ardent, deeply stirred”, as in 慷慨陈词 (to state one’s views with passion), not “generous” as in 3-12. Used of speeches, songs and debates; said with a smile it can hint at more heat than substance.
Learn this in Lesson 199 · HSK 7–9: 1913年的国会 (The parliament of 1913)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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