无穷大 (wú qióng dà) — infinity (in mathematics); infinitely great (adjective)

Definition

A math term for 'infinity' — a quantity larger than any real number, used in limits, series, and function analysis. Often paired with 无穷小 (infinitesimally small).

verb
infinity (in mathematics)infinitely great (adjective)

Examples

  • ，无穷大。
    Shù xué zhōng, wú qióng dà biǎo shì méi yǒu biān jiè de shù liàng.
    In mathematics, infinity represents a quantity without boundaries.
  • 无穷大。
    Zhè ge hán shù de zhí qū xiàng yú wú qióng dà.
    The value of this function tends to infinity.
  • 无穷大。
    Duì wú xiàn de sī kǎo ràng wǒ men rèn shi dào wú qióng dà de gài niàn.
    Reflecting on the infinite makes us realize the concept of infinity.

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.

无穷infinite
无wúwithout穷qióngend
动宾Verb + object
大dàgreat

无 and 穷 give without end, and 大 gives great, yielding infinitely great.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 無; 无 is its simplified writing.

For the simplified 无, the story is about 無. 無 drew a person dancing with ox tails held in both hands to pray for rain, then was borrowed for 'have no', so the picture does not explain that meaning.

Open 无 →

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 窮; 穷 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
穴穴xuécave; nest; confinement
Sound part声符shēngfú
躬
躬gōng窮qióng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 窮, 穴 (cave; nest; confinement) gives the sense and 躬 gives the sound; this is about 窮, not the simplified 穷.

Open 穷 →

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 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.