八大 (bā dà) — (proper noun) eight great (used in names of groups of eight major items)

Definition

Classifier/quantifier meaning 'eight great', used only in the names of famous groups of eight — it isn't a general counting word.

noun
(proper noun) eight great (used in names of groups of eight major items)

Examples

  • 八大。
    Tài yáng xì yǒu bā dà xíng xīng.
    There are eight great planets in the solar system.
  • 八大。
    Zhōng guó de bā dà cài xì gè yǒu tè sè.
    China's eight great cuisines each have their own characteristics.
  • 八大。
    Tā duì bā dà hú tòng de lì shǐ hěn gǎn xìng qù.
    He is very interested in the history of the Eight Great Hutongs.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

八 shows two bent lines, indicating the original meaning 'to divide'; it was later used for 'eight' because the words sounded alike.

Open 八 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 大 is a picture of a person standing and facing forward, not of someone stretching their arms.

Open 大 →

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