大抵 (dà dǐ) — generally speaking; in the main; mostly

Definition

A formal/written adverb meaning 'generally speaking, in the main' — used to summarize a broad trend, often followed by 来说 or placed before a statement about most cases.

adverb
generally speakingin the mainmostly

Examples

  • 大抵。
    Tā dà dǐ bù xǐ huan zhè yàng de ān pái.
    He generally doesn't like this kind of arrangement.
  • 大抵，。
    dà dǐ Lái shuō, zhè ge jì huà bú cuò.
    Generally speaking, this plan is not bad.
  • 大抵。
    Huì yì de nèi róng dà dǐ yǐ jīng jué dìng le.
    The content of the meeting has generally been decided.

Origin

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 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
氐
氐dī抵
Same sound today

抵 pairs 手 (hand) with 氐, which gives its sound.

Open 抵 →

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