When the formation data identifies 大 as semantic, the relevant character record states that role.
← All 214 radical families
Semantic role Phonetic role Radical classification
大
Radical 37 of 214 · 3 strokes
Big
dà
Unicode uses 大 as a Kangxi radical category. Its reference meaning is big, great, vast, large, high. The relationship to an individual character may be semantic, historical, or primarily classificatory.
25 course characters125 character–word links
Semantic–phonetic characters identify the component associated with historical pronunciation.
The primary dictionary radical is shown independently of any claim about modern meaning.
Character index
25 course characters
Expand a character to view its structure, formation analysis, and related HSK words.
Showing 25 characters.
大dàbig, great, vast, high, deepDetails+
formation note
Formation: Pictograph of a person with outstretched arms, representing the meaning "big".
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 一 + 人
HSK words with 大26 words in this course
太tàivery, too much; big; extremeDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Addition of a dot to 大 (dà; big) to mean "very" or "extremely".
- 大Pictographic componentbig
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 大 + 丶
HSK words with 太5 words in this course
天tiānsky, heaven; god, celestialDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Pictograph of a line above a person, representing the sky.
- ◎Pictographic componentcharacterless component
- 大Pictographic componentbig
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 一 + 大
HSK words with 天18 words in this course
夫fūman, husband; worker; thoseDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Pictograph of a man. The top horizontal stroke is traditionally explained as a hairpin which was only worn by adults.
- ◎Pictographic componentcharacterless component
- 大Pictographic componentbig
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 一 + 大
HSK words with 夫5 words in this course
头tóuhead; chief, boss; first, topDetails+
simplified form
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 頁 represents the meaning and 豆 represents the sound. The simplified character 头 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 頭.
- 豆Simplified formbean; (bowl)
- 頁Simplified formleaf; page; (head)
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- ⺀ + 大
HSK words with 头12 words in this course
奇qístrange, unusual, odd; uncanny, occultDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 大 represents the meaning and 可 represents the sound.
- 大Semantic componentbig
- 可Phonetic componentbe willing; allow
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 大 + 可
HSK words with 奇6 words in this course
失shīto lose; to make a mistake, to neglectDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Pictograph of something falling out of the hand.
- 手Pictographic componenthand
- ◎Pictographic componentcharacterless component
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 丿 + 夫
HSK words with 失14 words in this course
奋fènto strive, to exert effort; to arouseDetails+
formation note
Formation: Simplified form of 奮. Origin unclear. The traditional component 隹 was removed for simplification.
- 大Role unclearbig
- 隹Removed in simplifiedbird
- 田Role unclearfield
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 大 + 田
HSK words with 奋4 words in this course
奖jiǎngprize, reward; to awardDetails+
simplified form
Formation: Simplified form of 獎. Phonosemantic compound. 犬 represents the meaning and 將 represents the sound.
- 大Simplified formbig
- 将Phonetic componentwill; use; take
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 丬 + 夕 + 大
HSK words with 奖4 words in this course
奮fènto strive, to exert effort; to arouseDetails+
formation note
Formation: Origin unclear.
- 大Role unclearbig
- 隹Role unclearbird
- 田Role unclearfield
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 大 + 隹 + 田
HSK words with 奮4 words in this course
夹jiāto support; to be wedged betweenDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Simplified form of 夾. Pictograph of a person (大) being pushed by people on both sides.
- 大Pictographic componentbig
- 人Pictographic componentperson
- 人Pictographic componentperson
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 夫 + 丷
HSK words with 夹2 words in this course
夸kuāextravagant, luxurious; handsomeDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Semantic–phonetic formation: 大 contributes the broad semantic category “great”; 亏 contributes the historical pronunciation.
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 大 + 亏
HSK words with 夸2 words in this course
夾jiāto support; to be wedged betweenDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Pictograph of a person (大) being pushed by people on both sides.
- 大Pictographic componentbig
- 人Pictographic componentperson
- 人Pictographic componentperson
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 大 + 从
HSK words with 夾2 words in this course
奈nàibut, how; to bear, to stand, to endureDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: A man 大 with spirit 示
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 大 + 示
HSK words with 奈1 word in this course
套tàocase, cover, envelope, wrapperDetails+
semantic formation
Formation: A cover has to be big (大) and long (镸) enough to wrap around what it is covering.
- 大Semantic componentbig
- 镸Semantic componentlong; grow; elder
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 大 + 镸
HSK words with 套4 words in this course
央yāngcentral; to beg; to run outDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Pictograph of a person (大) with a cangue (torture device for punishing criminals) around his neck. People wearing such devices were not able to reach their mouth with their own hands, and were forced to beg for food.
- ◎Pictographic componentcharacterless component
- 大Pictographic componentbig
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 冂 + 大
HSK words with 央1 word in this course
夺duóto rob, to snatch, to take by forceDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: A man 大 grasping something 寸
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 大 + 寸
HSK words with 夺2 words in this course
奔bēnto rush about; to run, to fleeDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: A man 大 running through a field of grass 卉
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 大 + 卉
HSK words with 奔2 words in this course
奉fèngto offer, to respect, to server; to receiveDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 廾 represents the meaning and 丰 represents the sound.
- 廾Semantic componenttwo hands
- 丰Phonetic componentabundant; fertile
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 大
HSK words with 奉1 word in this course
奏zòuto play; to memorialize; to reportDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: A report about (above) the emperor 天
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 天
HSK words with 奏2 words in this course
奥àomysterious, obscure, profound; used in transliterationsDetails+
semantic formation
Formation: Simplified form of 奧. Origin unclear.
- 宀Semantic componentroof
- 米Role unclearrice
- 大Role unclearbig
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 宀 + 米 + 大
HSK words with 奥2 words in this course
奠diànto found, to settle; to pay respects; a libation for the deadDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Pictograph of alchohol (酉) being poured out as a a libation for the dead.
- 酉Pictographic component10th earthly branch; (wine)
- ◎Pictographic componentcharacterless component
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 酋 + 大
HSK words with 奠1 word in this course
奢shēexaggerated; extravagant, wastefulDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 大 represents the meaning and 者 represents the sound.
- 大Semantic componentbig
- 者Phonetic component-er; [one that...]
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 大 + 者
HSK words with 奢1 word in this course
奧àomysterious, obscure, profound; used in transliterationsDetails+
semantic formation
Formation: Origin unclear.
- 宀Semantic componentroof
- 釆Role unclearsow; scatter
- 大Role unclearbig
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 釆 + 大
HSK words with 奧2 words in this course
奪duóto rob, to snatch, to take by forceDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: A man 大 grasping 寸 a bird 隹
- Category radical
- 大 big
- Visual structure
- 大 + 隹 + 寸
HSK words with 奪2 words in this course
Classification: Unicode 17.0 kRSUnicode. Structure: Make Me a Hanzi. Formation: Dong Chinese Lexicon where available, with a documented Make Me a Hanzi fallback. Method and licenses.