flaunt, praise

夸 is composed of 大 (big, large) and 亏 (deficit). 大 is a pictograph of a person with arms and legs outstretched. 亏 depicts a stream of breath rising upward but bending due to obstruction, which extends to the meaning of hindrance or obstacle. Therefore, 夸 is a pictograph of a person crossing over an obstacle. Overcoming an obstacle is something worthy of showing off and being praised, but this meaning was later taken over by the character 誇. Nowadays, 夸 is mostly used as a component in other characters.