大考 (dà kǎo) — final exam

Definition

大考 refers to a major, high-stakes exam — a final exam or big test, stronger than 小考 (quiz/minor test). Often paired with 小考 to contrast weight, as in 大考小考.

noun
final exam
Measure word · 场

Examples

  • 大考。
    Zhè cì dà kǎo fēi cháng zhòng yào.
    This final exam is very important.
  • 大考，。
    Tā wèi le zhǔn bèi dà kǎo, měi tiān xué xí dào hěn wǎn.
    In order to prepare for the final exam, he studies until late every day.
  • 大考。
    dà kǎo De chéng jì yǐ jīng gōng bù le.
    The results of the final exam have been announced.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

大dàmajor
考kǎoexam

It names a major 大 考, a final exam.

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.

Open 大 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 耂耂lǎoan old man with long hair, bent over
  • 丂丂kǎoa walking cane

In 考, the upper 耂 is an old man with long hair, bent over, and the lower 丂 is a walking cane.

Open 考 →

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