大胆

• Pinyin: dà dǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 大 (big) + 胆 (gallbladder, courage)

Meaning

Bold; daring; audacious.

Describes someone who is brave, fearless, or willing to take risks. Can be positive (courageous, innovative) or negative (reckless, presumptuous) depending on context. Often used to encourage someone to speak up or try something new.

Examples

1. 她做了一个大胆的决定，辞职去创业。 She made a bold decision to quit her job and start a business.
2. 大胆说出你的想法，别害怕。 Speak your mind boldly — don't be afraid.
3. 这个设计方案非常大胆，但不知道客户能不能接受。 This design proposal is very bold, but I'm not sure if the client will accept it.

Usage Guide

Context: encouragement, risk-taking, creativity

Tone: assertive

Do Say

• 大胆一点！(Be bolder!)
• 这是一个大胆的尝试。(This is a bold attempt.)

Don't Say

• 对上级说'你太大胆了'可能被理解为批评他们越权——在批评语境下小心使用 (Telling a superior 你太大胆了 may imply they overstepped — use carefully in critical contexts)

Origin & History

Compound of 大 (big, great) + 胆 (gallbladder, courage), as the gallbladder was traditionally associated with bravery in Chinese culture.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal