老大

• 拼音: lǎo dà
• 汉字拆解: 老 = 耂 + 匕 (old + change — aged/senior); 大 = 大 (big — the eldest or largest)

含义

The eldest child; the boss or leader; greatly or extremely. Can refer to the firstborn in a family, the head of a group, or function as an adverb meaning 'very much.'

In family contexts, 老大 is the eldest sibling. In colloquial speech, it refers to the leader or top figure in a group, organisation, or gang (often with informal or underworld connotations). Adverbially, 老大不小 means 'quite old' and 老大不愿意 means 'very unwilling.'

例句

1. 他是家里的老大，从小就承担着照顾弟弟妹妹的责任。
2. 这家公司的老大决策果断，带领团队在激烈的市场竞争中脱颖而出。
3. 都三十好几的人了，老大不小了，该考虑成家立业的问题了。

用法指南

语境: family, colloquial, business, slang

语气: casual

正确说法

• 作为团队的老大，他不仅要制定战略方向，还要协调各方资源，责任重大。(As the boss of the team, he not only has to set the strategic direction but also coordinate resources from all sides, bearing great responsibility.)
• 她老大不情愿地接受了这个安排，心里却一直在盘算着如何改变局面。(She very reluctantly accepted this arrangement, but kept calculating in her mind how to change the situation.)

错误说法

• 公司的老大哥 — while 老大哥 exists (Big Brother), it has different connotations; for company leader, just use 老大 or 老板

起源与历史

老 (old/senior) + 大 (big/eldest)

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal