重大

• Pinyin: zhòng dà
• Hanzi breakdown: 重 = depicts something heavy, originally a bag on a scale; 大 = pictograph of a person with arms spread wide

Meaning

Major; significant; important. Describes something of great importance, scale, or impact.

Used to describe events, decisions, discoveries, or matters of great significance and consequence. More formal and emphatic than 重要 (important). Often collocates with words like 事件 (event), 决定 (decision), 发现 (discovery), and 变化 (change). Commonly seen in news reports and official communications.

Examples

1. 这是一个重大的决定，需要认真考虑。 This is a major decision that requires careful consideration.
2. 科学家们取得了一项重大的发现。 The scientists made a significant discovery.
3. 近年来，这座城市发生了重大变化。 In recent years, this city has undergone major changes.

Usage Guide

Context: news, official, academic

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 这次会议讨论了几个重大问题。(This meeting discussed several major issues.)
• 这对我们来说意义重大。(This is of great significance to us.)

Don't Say

• 今天午饭很重大。(Don't use 重大 for trivial everyday matters — use 重要 or 丰盛 as appropriate; 重大 is reserved for matters of genuine significance)

Origin & History

重 (heavy, important) + 大 (big, great). Together they intensify to mean 'greatly important' or 'major.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal