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大于 (dà yú) — to be greater than (used in comparisons)

Definition

Used in math, science, and formal comparisons: a value is greater than another (五大于三). Stick to numeric comparisons; for 'more than' quantities use 多 or 以上.

verb
to be greater than (used in comparisons)

Examples

  • 大于。
    Zhè ge shù dà yú nà ge shù.
    This number is greater than that number.
  • 大于。
    Tā de nián líng dà yú wǒ de.
    His age is greater than mine.
  • ，。
    Zài shù xué zhōng, bā dà yú wǔ.
    In mathematics, eight is greater than five.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

大dàbigger
于yúcomparison marker

大 means bigger, and 于 marks comparison, so together they mean greater than.

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.

  • 一一yīflat stream of air
  • 丂丂kǎoto exhale

The old shape of 于 may have pictured an ancient wind instrument. Another explanation reads 一 as a flat stream of air and 丂 as an exhaling mark.

Open 于 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5Math

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