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老大 (lǎo dà) — (adjective) older, old (in age); (adverb) very (in informal speech, usually expressing displeasure or reluctance)

Definition

As an adjective, 老大 means 'old' in age, stronger than 旧 (which is for used objects). As an adverb in casual speech it means 'very', usually showing displeasure or reluctance — a more colloquial version of 老是.

adjective
olderold (in age)
adverb
very (in informal speech, usually expressing displeasure or reluctance)
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，老大。
    Wǒ tīng le zhè huà, xīn lǐ lǎo dà bù gāo xìng.
    When I heard this, I was very unhappy.
  • 老大，。
    Tā dōu lǎo dà nián jì le, hái shì dān shēn.
    He's already old and still single.
  • ，老大。
    Bié ràng tā qù, tā lǎo dà bú yuàn yì lái.
    Don't ask him to go; he's very unwilling to come.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

老lǎofamiliar
大dàbig

老 before 大 gives a familiar label for the first or chief member, as in eldest child or leader.

Characters in this word

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

The shape 老 combines 人 (man), 毛 (hair), and 匕 (cane), showing a man with long hair leaning on a cane.

Open 老 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Family & KinshipSocial Roles & Status5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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