广大

• Pinyin: guǎng dà
• Hanzi breakdown: 广 = simplified from 廣, a broad roof — wide; 大 = pictograph of a person with arms spread — big

Meaning

Vast; extensive; broad. Describes a large scale, wide area, or great number of people.

Used for large geographical areas or large groups of people. Common collocations: 广大地区 (vast area), 广大群众 (the broad masses), 广大读者 (the wide readership). Often appears in formal writing, news, and official language.

Examples

1. 中国西部有广大的草原和沙漠。 Western China has vast grasslands and deserts.
2. 这项政策受到广大市民的欢迎。 This policy has been welcomed by the broad public.
3. 广大学生都希望学校能增加运动设施。 The majority of students hope the school can add more sports facilities.

Usage Guide

Context: news, official, geography

Tone: grand

Do Say

• 广大农村地区正在快速发展。(The vast rural areas are developing rapidly.)
• 感谢广大网友的支持。(Thank you for the support of our many online followers.)

Don't Say

• 我家的客厅很广大。(Don't use 广大 for a room — it's for vast areas or large populations. Say 我家的客厅很大 or 很宽敞.)

Origin & History

Compound of 广 (wide/broad) and 大 (big/great). Both characters emphasise largeness, creating a strong sense of vast extent.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal