The Chinese word 大自然 (dàzìrán, meaning "nature" or "the natural world") is a compound formed by combining the character 大 (dà, meaning "great" or "vast") with the existing word 自然 (zìrán, meaning "natural" or "spontaneous"). The term 自然 itself is philosophical in origin, literally meaning "self-so" or "as it is by itself", describing the inherent, unforced order of the universe. By prefixing it with 大, the word gains a sense of grandeur and totality, transforming the concept from "the natural" or "spontaneity" into the all-encompassing, majestic system of "great nature" or "the great natural world". This formation follows a common Chinese lexical pattern where a modifier amplifies a core concept to create a more expansive and profound term.