大刀阔斧 (dà dāo kuò fǔ) — (idiom) bold and resolute; decisive and vigorou…

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'bold and decisive' in carrying out reform or major action. Implies sweeping, vigorous moves rather than small, cautious steps.

idiom

bold and resolutedecisive and vigorous in action

大刀阔斧，。
Tā zuò shì dà dāo kuò fǔ, cóng bù tuō ní dài shuǐ.
He does things boldly and resolutely, never dragging things out.
大刀阔斧。
Gǎi gé xū yào dà dāo kuò fǔ de jīng shén.
Reform requires a bold and decisive spirit.
大刀阔斧。
Xīn lǐng dǎo shàng rèn hòu dà dāo kuò fǔ dì tuī xíng le xīn zhèng cè.
The new leader implemented new policies boldly and decisively after taking office.

Characters in this word

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.

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

The shape of 刀 comes from a simple picture of a knife.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 闊; 阔 is its simplified writing.

門活闊

Meaning part形符xíngfú

門門méngate; door

Sound part声符shēngfú

活

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 闊 shows 門, a gate or door, with 活, which gives the sound; the simplified 阔 is a later shorthand.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

父斤斧

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

父

Same sound today

斧 combines 斤, an axe, with 父, which gives the sound.