Definitions
(adjective)
big; large; huge
(adjective)
great; important
(adjective)
older; eldest
(adverb)
very much; greatly
Etymology
Depicts an adult man facing forward and standing erect. The meaning later shifted to "big".
About
The character "大" finds its origin in a pictographic depiction of an adult human figure standing with limbs outstretched, a form that conceptually linked the human form to the perception of substantial size. This initial representation, emphasizing the physical stature of a grown person, gradually led to the character's primary meaning shifting from specifically denoting an adult to broadly signifying anything with considerable dimensions, thereby encompassing senses such as "big", "great", or "large". Its semantic scope further extended into abstract realms, including importance, intensity, and seniority, as seen in terms for "elder" or "major". The character's simple structure, essentially a horizontal stroke over a crossed form, has maintained visual consistency and functions as a key semantic component in many other characters, where it typically conveys ideas related to scale, extent, or general significance.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这是一个大房间。
他长大了想当医生。
我们大学有很多学生。
大家都很喜欢这个电影。
这个大项目需要很多资金。
他的伟大成就赢得了人们的尊敬。
在大多数情况下，这个问题很容易解决。
对于这个重大发现，科学家们进行了深入的研究。