伟大

This is an old revision of the document!

wěidà: 伟大 - Great, Mighty, Grand

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: wěidà, wei da, 伟大, great in Chinese, mighty, grand, Chinese word for great, meaning of weida, 伟大 vs 了不起, Chinese adjectives, HSK 4 vocabulary
  • Summary: Learn the meaning of 伟大 (wěidà), the Chinese word for “great,” “mighty,” or “grand.” This page explores how 伟大 (wěidà) is used to describe heroic people, monumental achievements, and profound concepts like a mother's love or a nation's history. Discover why you can't use it for a “great” sandwich and learn its crucial role in Chinese culture and formal language, with dozens of practical examples.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): wěidà
  • Part of Speech: Adjective
  • HSK Level: HSK 4
  • Concise Definition: Great, mighty, grand; used to describe something of impressive scale, significance, or moral stature.
  • In a Nutshell: 伟大 (wěidà) is not your everyday “great.” While in English you can have a “great day” or a “great cup of coffee,” 伟大 is reserved for things that are truly epic, heroic, or historically significant. It carries a strong sense of awe, respect, and formality. Think of the “Great Wall,” a “great leader,” or a “great sacrifice.” Using it for something mundane would sound strange or sarcastic.

Character Breakdown

  • 伟 (wěi): This character means “great,” “robust,” or “extraordinary.” It's composed of the “person” radical (亻) on the left and a phonetic component (韦 wéi) on the right. You can remember it as signifying an impressive or outstanding person.
  • 大 (dà): This is one of the first characters learners encounter, meaning “big” or “large.” It's a pictograph of a person with their arms stretched out wide to show how big they are.
  • The two characters combine literally to mean “great-big.” Together, 伟大 (wěidà) describes a greatness that isn't just about physical size (大), but also about impressive character, impact, or significance (伟).

Cultural Context and Significance

  • 伟大 (wěidà) holds a special, weighty place in Chinese culture, often tied to collectivism and national pride. It is frequently used in formal and political contexts to describe the nation, its leaders, historical achievements, and aspirational goals. Phrases like 伟大的祖国 (wěidà de zǔguó), “the great motherland,” are common in official media and patriotic education. This usage instills a sense of shared history and purpose.
  • Comparison to “Great” in English: The English word “great” has become a general-purpose positive adjective. We can say, “This pizza is great,” “He's a great friend,” or “Einstein was a great scientist.” In Chinese, these three concepts would require different words. You would use 好吃 (hǎochī) for the pizza, 好 (hǎo) or 不错 (bùcuò) for the friend, and only 伟大 (wěidà) for a figure like Einstein. The Western concept of “greatness” can be very individualistic. While a great artist is also 伟大 in Chinese, the term is most potent when their greatness contributes to society, history, or the collective good.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Formal & Political Context: This is the most common use of 伟大. It appears constantly in government speeches, news reports, history books, and national slogans to describe leaders, the Party, the army, or major national projects. It carries a tone of utmost respect and solemnity.
  • Describing People: When used for a person, it implies they are a historical figure, a national hero, or someone who has made a profound and selfless contribution. A doctor who sacrifices their life to save others could be called 伟大. You would not use it for a successful but ordinary CEO.
  • Describing Concepts: It is often used to describe profound, abstract concepts like love, sacrifice, or dreams. The most famous example is 伟大的母爱 (wěidà de mǔ'ài), “the great love of a mother,” which is seen as selfless and powerful.
  • Sarcastic or Casual Overstatement: Among younger people on social media, 伟大 can be used sarcastically to describe a trivial accomplishment, precisely because the word is so formal. For example, “He finally washed the dishes after two weeks. A truly 伟大 (wěidà) achievement!” This usage is informal and relies on the listener understanding the humorous exaggeration.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 长城是中国的伟大建筑之一。
    • Pinyin: Chángchéng shì Zhōngguó de wěidà jiànzhù zhī yī.
    • English: The Great Wall is one of China's great architectural structures.
    • Analysis: A classic, literal use of 伟大 to describe something magnificent and historically significant.
  • Example 2:
    • 他被认为是一位伟大的领袖。
    • Pinyin: Tā bèi rènwéi shì yī wèi wěidà de lǐngxiù.
    • English: He is considered to be a great leader.
    • Analysis: This is a formal way to describe a political or historical leader of major importance.
  • Example 3:
    • 母爱是世界上最伟大的力量。
    • Pinyin: Mǔ'ài shì shìjiè shàng zuì wěidà de lìliàng.
    • English: A mother's love is the greatest power in the world.
    • Analysis: Here, 伟大 is used to describe an abstract concept, highlighting its selfless and profound nature.
  • Example 4:
    • 爱因斯坦是一位伟大的科学家，他的理论改变了世界。
    • Pinyin: Àiyīnsītǎn shì yī wèi wěidà de kēxuéjiā, tā de lǐlùn gǎibiànle shìjiè.
    • English: Einstein was a great scientist whose theories changed the world.
    • Analysis: Perfect use for a historical figure whose contributions had a massive impact on humanity.
  • Example 5:
    • 消防员们做出了伟大的牺牲来拯救被困的家庭。
    • Pinyin: Xiāofángyuánmen zuòchūle wěidà de xīshēng lái zhěngjiù bèi kùn de jiātíng.
    • English: The firefighters made a great sacrifice to save the trapped family.
    • Analysis: 伟大 is often paired with 牺牲 (xīshēng), sacrifice, to describe heroic acts.
  • Example 6:
    • 实现中华民族伟大复兴是我们的共同梦想。
    • Pinyin: Shíxiàn Zhōnghuá Mínzú wěidà fùxīng shì wǒmen de gòngtóng mèngxiǎng.
    • English: Achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is our common dream.
    • Analysis: This is a very common political phrase in modern China, showing how 伟大 is tied to national goals.
  • Example 7:
    • 这是一个伟大的时代，充满了机遇和挑战。
    • Pinyin: Zhè shì yīgè wěidà de shídài, chōngmǎnle jīyù hé tiǎozhàn.
    • English: This is a great era, full of opportunities and challenges.
    • Analysis: Used to describe a period of history that is considered significant and transformative.
  • Example 8:
    • 他的小说被誉为一部伟大的文学作品。
    • Pinyin: Tā de xiǎoshuō bèi yùwéi yī bù wěidà de wénxué zuòpǐn.
    • English: His novel is hailed as a great literary work.
    • Analysis: Use 伟大 for art only when it is considered a masterpiece of historical importance, not just an enjoyable book.
  • Example 9:
    • 每个人都可以通过为社会做贡献而变得伟大。
    • Pinyin: Měi gè rén dōu kěyǐ tōngguò wèi shèhuì zuò gòngxiàn ér biànde wěidà.
    • English: Everyone can become great by contributing to society.
    • Analysis: This sentence reflects the cultural value that true greatness is often linked to collective contribution.
  • Example 10:
    • 他有一个伟大的理想，那就是消除世界上的贫困。
    • Pinyin: Tā yǒu yīgè wěidà de lǐxiǎng, nà jiùshì xiāochú shìjiè shàng de pínkùn.
    • English: He has a great ideal, which is to eliminate poverty in the world.
    • Analysis: 伟大 is perfectly suited for describing ambitious and noble goals or ideals.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • The “Great Pizza” Mistake: The most common mistake is using 伟大 (wěidà) like the English “great.” It is incorrect to describe food, a movie, or a fun day as 伟大. This will sound very strange to a native speaker.
    • Incorrect: `这个披萨很伟大。 (Zhège pīsà hěn wěidà.)`
    • Correct: `这个披萨很好吃。 (Zhège pīsà hěn hǎochī.)` - This pizza is delicious.
    • Correct: `这部电影很棒。 (Zhè bù diànyǐng hěn bàng.)` - This movie is great/awesome.
  • 伟大 (wěidà) vs. 了不起 (liǎobuqǐ) vs. 棒 (bàng):
    • 棒 (bàng): “Awesome,” “great.” Very informal and common. Use it for everyday praise. (你真棒! - You're awesome!)
    • 了不起 (liǎobuqǐ): “Amazing,” “terrific.” Stronger than 棒. Use it for impressive personal accomplishments. (考上清华大学，你真了不起! - You got into Tsinghua University, you're really amazing!)
    • 伟大 (wěidà): “Great,” “mighty.” The highest level. Reserved for heroic deeds, historical figures, and epic concepts. It's about historical or moral significance, not just personal skill.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 了不起 (liǎobuqǐ) - “Amazing” or “terrific.” Describes impressive personal achievements, but on a smaller, more personal scale than `伟大`.
  • 杰出 (jiéchū) - “Outstanding,” “distinguished.” A formal term for someone who excels in their field (e.g., a distinguished scientist, an outstanding artist). It's a bridge between `了不起` and `伟大`.
  • 宏伟 (hóngwěi) - “Grand,” “magnificent.” A close synonym, but specifically used for things with impressive physical scale, like buildings, bridges, or ambitious plans. The Great Wall is both `宏伟` (in its scale) and `伟大` (in its significance).
  • 崇高 (chónggāo) - “Lofty,” “sublime.” Describes high moral character, ideals, or spirit. A person's `崇高` ideals can be what makes them `伟大`.
  • 平凡 (píngfán) - “Ordinary,” “commonplace.” The direct antonym of `伟大`. A hero rises from `平凡` circumstances to do `伟大` things.
  • 英雄 (yīngxióng) - “Hero.” A person who is an `英雄` is often described as `伟大`.
  • 巨大 (jùdà) - “Huge,” “enormous.” Refers strictly to physical size or a large number. A problem can be `巨大`, but it is not `伟大`.
  • 卓越 (zhuóyuè) - “Excellent,” “outstanding.” Similar to `杰出`, often used in a business or academic context to mean “excellence.”