大学

• Pinyin: dà xué
• Hanzi breakdown: 大 (big, great) + 学 (study, learn) — great learning, i.e. higher education

Meaning

University; college. The institution of higher education attended after high school.

Refers to universities and colleges in general. Common patterns include 上大学 (attend university), 大学毕业 (graduate from university), and 大学校园 (university campus). In China, 大学 specifically refers to comprehensive universities.

Examples

1. 我在大学学中文。 I study Chinese at university.
2. 她明年上大学。 She is going to university next year.
3. 这所大学很有名。 This university is very famous.

Usage Guide

Context: education, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你在哪个大学？(Which university are you at?)
• 我想上一所好大学。(I want to attend a good university.)

Don't Say

• 我去大学了 meaning 'I am attending university' (去大学 means physically going to campus — use 上大学 for enrolling)

Origin & History

Compound of 大 (great) and 学 (study, learning) — literally great learning, referring to higher education.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal