大 stroke order 大 chinese writing meaning 大 chinese character tattoos

The Chinese Character: 大

The character "大" is one of the most fundamental and important characters in Chinese. Its core meaning is "big," "large," or "great."

1. Stroke Order and Writing

"大" is a simple character with only 3 strokes. It is crucial to write them in the correct order.

Stroke Order:

1. 一 (Horizontal stroke) - Write from left to right. This is the top stroke.

2. 丿 (Left-falling stroke) - Start from the top, slightly to the right of the center, and sweep down to the left. This stroke crosses the horizontal stroke.

3. ㇏ (Right-falling stroke) - Start from the top, near the center, and sweep down to the right. This stroke crosses the horizontal stroke and balances the left-falling stroke.

(Tip: You can find a visual animation by searching for "大 stroke order" online.)

2. Writing Meaning and Structure (Pictographic Origin)

The character "大" is a perfect example of a pictographic character (象形字, xiàngxíngzì). Its shape is a stylized drawing of a person.

Pictographic Interpretation:

• The horizontal stroke (一) represents a person's outstretched arms.

• The combined falling strokes (丿 and ㇏) represent the person's head, torso, and legs.

The Core Idea:
Why does a drawing of a person mean "big"? In ancient times, a human being was considered the largest and most significant creature in their own world. Unlike smaller animals or objects, a person standing with arms and legs outstretched occupies a significant amount of space, conveying a sense of scale and "bigness." Therefore, the form of a person came to represent the concept of "big" or "great."

3. Meaning and Usage

The meaning of "大" is versatile and appears in countless words and phrases.

Core Meaning: Big, Large, Great.

1. As an Adjective: Describing Physical Size or Importance

• 大的 (dà de) - Big; large.

• Example: 这是一个大的苹果。 (Zhè shì yīgè dà de píngguǒ.) - This is a big apple.

• 大人 (dàrén) - Adult; literally "big person."

• 大学 (dàxué) - University; literally "big learning."

• 大城市 (dà chéngshì) - Big city.

2. As an Adverb: Meaning "Greatly" or "Very"

• 大笑 (dàxiào) - To laugh heartily; "laugh greatly."

• 大吃一惊 (dà chī yī jīng) - To be greatly astonished; "greatly eat one shock."

• 大好 (dàhǎo) - Very good; excellent.

3. In Comparative and Superlative Forms

• 更大 (gèng dà) - Bigger.

• 最大 (zuì dà) - Biggest.

4. In Titles and Names to Denote "Greatness" or "Seniority"

• 大王 (dàwáng) - Great King.

• 大卫 (Dàwèi) - David (a common name, meaning "Beloved" but using the character for "great").

• 大哥 (dàgē) - Eldest brother; a respectful term for an older male.

A Note on Pronunciation:
While almost always pronounced dà (fourth tone), "大" has a special pronunciation in a few common words:

• 大夫 (dàifu) - Doctor (this is an exception where it is pronounced dai).