How to Write 大 (dà)
Detailed Mastery Guide for 大
The character 大 (Traditional: 大) is a fundamental part of the Chinese language, representing "Big / Large". In our Level 1 curriculum, we focus on the 3-step stroke sequence to ensure your handwriting is both fast and accurate.
Writing & Recognition
Proper stroke order is essential for character recognition and legibility. By following the animation above, you can see how the character is built from top to bottom and left to right. This character is often categorized under Numbers & Quantities, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.
Key Vocabulary
Radical Breakdown
Breaking it down: The character 大 is built on the radical 大 (37). Understanding radicals like this is a proven technique for accelerating vocabulary acquisition.
Etymology & Origins
A pictograph of a person standing with arms outstretched to represent size.
Example Sentence
Simplified: 这是一个很大的大学。
Zhè shì yī gè hěn dà de dàxué.
Traditional: 這是一個很大的大學。
Ni2 si6 jat1 go3 han2 daai6 dik1 daai6 hok6.
"This is a very large university."
Dialect Pronunciation
In Mandarin, this character is pronounced as dà. If you are learning Cantonese, the pronunciation is daai6. Use the audio buttons to hear the subtle tonal differences between the two major Chinese dialects.
Practice & Retention
To move this character from short-term to long-term memory, we recommend using our free practice sheet generator. Writing the character 10-15 times while following the correct sequence is a proven method for mastery.
Quick Self-Check
What is the meaning of '大'?
Other Characters in Level 1 Unit 1
Hope this tool helps your Chinese learning journey!
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