Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 大 | dà |
| 大型 | dàxíng |
大 is the primary way to say large or big. It can be used for physical size, such as large hands or a large sum of money, but it can also be used to describe someone being older in age. For example, you might say someone is 大 than you to indicate they are older.
What does it mean word for word?
The form 大型 is composed of 大 (large) and 型 (type, model or pattern).
Which one should you use?
While 大 can be used in any context to mean large, 大型 is a more specific term used to describe the scale or size of objects, machines or organizations, often translated as 'large-scale' or 'large-sized'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Hokkien (Min Nan) dialect, the word for large is 大 (pronounced tōa).
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the adjective 大 in a simple sentence, it is much more natural to place an adverb like 很 before it (resulting in 很大), even if you do not intend to emphasize the word 'very'. Using the bare adjective alone often sounds incomplete to native speakers.
How do you pronounce it?
大 is pronounced dà.
Did you know?
- The character 大 was originally a pictogram of a person standing facing forward, rather than a person with arms outstretched as is often commonly taught.
Examples in context
- 汤姆的手大。Tom has large hands.This sentence uses 大 to describe the size of hands.Tatoeba #5114139 by musclegirlxyp, translation #6274555 by CK
- 一大筆錢遭竊。A large sum of money was stolen.This sentence uses 大 to describe a large sum of money.Tatoeba #13786706 by LeviHighway, translation #9462206 by CK
- 这本书没那本大。This book is not as large as that one.This sentence uses 大 to compare the size of two books.Tatoeba #2031412 by ydcok, translation #435791 by CK
- 这是一个大问题。This is a big problem.
- 他们建造了一座巨大的桥梁。They built a huge bridge.
- 这个会议室非常宽敞。This meeting room is very spacious.
- 这个冰淇淋是大大的。This ice cream is really big.
- 我喜欢那个超级大的杯子。I like that super big cup.
- 呢個係一個好大嘅問題。This is a very big problem.
- 111 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
志强 and 梓涵 are looking at a fruit in a grocery store.
- 志强 Zhiqiang这个苹果很大吗？Zhège píngguǒ hěn dà ma?Is this apple very large?
- 梓涵 Zihan是的，它很大。Shì de, tā hěn dà.Yes, it is very large.
- 志强 Zhiqiang梓涵，我们买这个吧。Zǐhán, wǒmen mǎi zhège ba.Zihan, let's buy this one.
- 梓涵 Zihan好的，志强。Hǎo de, Zhìqiáng.Okay, Zhiqiang.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “large” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 大, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
