大人

• Pinyin: dà ren
• Hanzi breakdown: 大 = big, grown; 人 = pictograph of a standing person

Meaning

Adult; grown-up. Refers to a person who has reached adulthood, as opposed to a child.

Commonly used in contrast with 小孩 (child). In everyday speech, 大人 simply means an adult. In classical Chinese, 大人 was also a respectful title for officials, but this usage is archaic in modern speech.

Examples

1. 大人能做的事情，小孩子不能做。 Things that adults can do, children cannot.
2. 你已经是大人了，要学会自己做决定。 You are already an adult — you need to learn to make your own decisions.
3. 这个电影不太适合小孩子看，是给大人看的。 This film is not really suitable for children — it is for adults.

Usage Guide

Context: family, age, daily life

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他已经是大人了。(He is already an adult.)
• 大人和小孩都喜欢这个节目。(Both adults and children like this programme.)

Don't Say

• 不要用大人来正式表达成年人 — 大人 is more colloquial. In formal or legal contexts, use 成年人 (adult, person of legal age) instead.

Origin & History

Compound of 大 (big, grown) and 人 (person). Literally means a big or grown person. In ancient China, it was also a title of respect for officials.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal