大大小小 (dà dà xiǎo xiǎo) — (set phrase) of all sizes; big and small; (set phrase) all sorts (of things or people), regardless of size

Definition

Set phrase meaning 'big and small; of all sizes / all kinds' — used to collectively describe things or people regardless of size, typically modifying a noun (大大小小的东西).

bound form
(set phrase) of all sizesbig and small(set phrase) all sorts (of things or people)regardless of size

Examples

  • 大大小小。
    Chāo shì lǐ de dà dà xiǎo xiǎo shāng pǐn dōu dǎ zhé le.
    All the products in the supermarket, big and small, are on sale.
  • 大大小小。
    Tā jiā lǐ dà dà xiǎo xiǎo de dōng xī duī le yì wū zi.
    His house is piled with things of all sizes.
  • ，大大小小。
    Zhè cì huó dòng, dà dà xiǎo xiǎo de cān yù zhě dōu yǒu jī huì huò jiǎng.
    In this event, participants of all sizes have a chance to win a prize.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

大大big
大dàbig大dàbig
重叠Reduplication
小小small
小xiǎosmall小xiǎosmall
重叠Reduplication

大 and 小 are doubled to cover all sizes, from big to small.

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 →

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.

  • 八八bāto divide; to separate
  • 丨丨gǔnsmall object

The shape of 小 comes from three small dots, later elongated into its strokes; the apparent parts 八 and 丨 are a later way of seeing it.

Open 小 →

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

  • 八八bāto divide; to separate
  • 丨丨gǔnsmall object

The shape of 小 comes from three small dots, later elongated into its strokes; the apparent parts 八 and 丨 are a later way of seeing it.

Open 小 →

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