大家

• Pinyin: dà jiā
• Hanzi breakdown: 大 = big; 家 = 宀 (roof) + 豕 (pig) — a household with livestock under the roof

Meaning

Everyone; everybody. A collective pronoun referring to all the people in a group.

One of the most common words in Chinese. Used to address or refer to a group of people. Frequently used as a greeting opener: 大家好 (hello everyone). Can refer to people present, a community, or the general public.

Examples

1. 大家好！欢迎来到我们的学校。 Hello everyone! Welcome to our school.
2. 大家都很喜欢这位新老师。 Everyone really likes this new teacher.
3. 周末大家一起去爬山吧。 Let's all go hiking together this weekend.

Usage Guide

Context: greetings, group address, everyday

Tone: friendly

Do Say

• 大家早上好！(Good morning, everyone!)
• 大家觉得怎么样？(What does everyone think?)

Don't Say

• 不要用大家指两三个人 — 大家 implies a group of people. For two or three specific people, address them individually or use 你们.

Origin & History

Compound of 大 (big, great) and 家 (family, everyone). Originally meant a great family or noble household; in modern usage, it simply means everyone.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal