hóngwěi: 宏伟 - Grand, Magnificent, Majestic

• Keywords: hongwei, 宏伟, magnificent in Chinese, grand, majestic, Chinese architecture, grand plan, impressive, large-scale, how to say majestic in Chinese, HSK 5 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn how to use the Chinese word 宏伟 (hóngwěi) to describe things that are not just big, but truly grand, magnificent, and majestic. This page breaks down the meaning of 宏伟, its cultural significance in describing everything from the Great Wall to ambitious business plans, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Understand the difference between 宏伟 and similar words like `大 (dà)` to sound more like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): hóngwěi
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: Describing something as grand, magnificent, or majestic, typically in reference to its vast scale, imposing appearance, or ambitious scope.
• In a Nutshell: 宏伟 (hóngwěi) is the word you reach for when “big” isn't enough. It captures a feeling of awe and admiration for something's immense scale and impressive nature. Think of the feeling you get when you first see the Great Wall snaking over mountains, a massive modern skyscraper touching the clouds, or when you hear about a visionary plan to build a new city. That impressive, awe-inspiring grandeur is 宏伟. It applies equally to physical structures and abstract concepts like goals and blueprints.

• 宏 (hóng): This character means “grand,” “vast,” or “spacious.” The top radical 宀 (mián) is the “roof” radical, suggesting a large, covered space. It evokes a sense of expansive scale.
• 伟 (wěi): This character means “great,” “mighty,” or “robust.” The left-side radical亻(rén) means “person.” It's often used to describe great people (e.g., 伟大 wěidà - great).
• Together, 宏 (grand) + 伟 (great/mighty) create 宏伟 (hóngwěi), a powerful adjective that means “grand and mighty.” The combination emphasizes both the vast physical or conceptual scale (宏) and the impressive, powerful nature (伟) of the subject.

The concept of 宏伟 is deeply woven into the fabric of Chinese culture and history. For millennia, China has been defined by its 宏伟 projects, which stand as testaments to collective effort, centralized power, and long-term vision. Ancient examples include the Great Wall (万里长城), the Forbidden City (故宫), and the Grand Canal (大运河). These weren't just functional structures; they were 宏伟 symbols of the empire's power and ambition. This tradition continues into the modern era with projects like the Three Gorges Dam (三峡大坝) and the vast network of high-speed rail. To a Western learner, 宏伟 might seem similar to “grand” or “magnificent.” However, there's a subtle difference. A grand European cathedral might evoke feelings of artistic beauty and divine worship. A 宏伟 Chinese palace or dam, while also impressive, often carries a stronger connotation of human achievement, state power, and national pride. It's a celebration of what can be accomplished through immense, organized human effort, a value that is highly esteemed in Chinese society. Using 宏伟 correctly shows an appreciation for this cultural emphasis on large-scale, ambitious undertakings.

宏伟 is a formal and positive adjective. You'll encounter it frequently in documentaries, news reports, official speeches, and formal writing.

• Architecture and Landscapes: This is the most common usage. It's perfect for describing famous landmarks, imposing buildings, and breathtaking natural scenery.
  • `这栋摩天大楼的设计非常宏伟。` (The design of this skyscraper is very magnificent.)
  • `我们被长城的宏伟景象震撼了。` (We were stunned by the magnificent sight of the Great Wall.)
• Plans, Goals, and Blueprints: This abstract usage is very common in business, politics, and personal development. It describes ambitious visions and large-scale plans.
  • `公司为未来十年制定了宏伟的蓝图。` (The company has formulated a grand blueprint for the next ten years.)
  • `他年轻时就有着宏伟的抱负。` (He had grand ambitions even when he was young.)
• Music and Art: It can be used to describe a piece of music or art that has a grand, epic feel.
  • `这首交响乐气势宏伟，激动人心。` (This symphony is majestic and exciting.)

Example 1:

• 长城真是太宏伟了！
• Pinyin: Chángchéng zhēnshì tài hóngwěi le!
• English: The Great Wall is truly so magnificent!
• Analysis: A classic and common exclamation a tourist might make. It expresses a feeling of awe upon seeing a massive, famous structure.

Example 2:

• 故宫的建筑群非常宏伟。
• Pinyin: Gùgōng de jiànzhùqún fēicháng hóngwěi.
• English: The architectural complex of the Forbidden City is extremely grand.
• Analysis: `建筑群 (jiànzhùqún)` means “architectural complex” or “group of buildings.” 宏伟 is used here to describe the overall impression of the entire site's scale and design.

Example 3:

• 他们正在实施一个宏伟的计划。
• Pinyin: Tāmen zhèngzài shíshī yī gè hóngwěi de jìhuà.
• English: They are implementing a grand plan.
• Analysis: This shows the abstract usage of 宏伟. The plan isn't physically large, but its scope and ambition are.

Example 4:

• 站在山顶，我们看到了宏伟的日出。
• Pinyin: Zhàn zài shāndǐng, wǒmen kàndào le hóngwěi de rìchū.
• English: Standing on the mountain peak, we saw a majestic sunrise.
• Analysis: Here, 宏伟 describes a natural phenomenon. It conveys not just that the sunrise was beautiful, but that it was vast and awe-inspiring.

Example 5:

• 这个城市有着宏伟的未来发展蓝图。
• Pinyin: Zhè ge chéngshì yǒuzhe hóngwěi de wèilái fāzhǎn lántú.
• English: This city has a grand blueprint for future development.
• Analysis: `蓝图 (lántú)` means “blueprint.” The phrase `宏伟的蓝图 (hóngwěi de lántú)` is a very common collocation in business and government contexts.

Example 6:

• 这座桥梁本身就是一件宏伟的工程杰作。
• Pinyin: Zhè zuò qiáoliáng běnshēn jiùshì yī jiàn hóngwěi de gōngchéng jiézuò.
• English: This bridge is itself a magnificent engineering masterpiece.
• Analysis: This sentence emphasizes that the bridge is not just a utility but a work of art on a grand scale. `工程杰作 (gōngchéng jiézuò)` means “engineering masterpiece.”

Example 7:

• 他的目标很宏伟，希望能够消除贫困。
• Pinyin: Tā de mùbiāo hěn hóngwěi, xīwàng nénggòu xiāochú pínkùn.
• English: His goal is very grand; he hopes to be able to eliminate poverty.
• Analysis: This highlights how 宏伟 can describe a noble and ambitious personal goal.

Example 8:

• 奥运会的开幕式场面十分宏伟。
• Pinyin: Àoyùnhuì de kāimùshì chǎngmiàn shífēn hóngwěi.
• English: The scene of the Olympic Games' opening ceremony was extremely magnificent.
• Analysis: Used to describe the scale and impressiveness of a large event. `场面 (chǎngmiàn)` refers to the scene or spectacle.

Example 9:

• 这部电影讲述了一个宏伟的史诗故事。
• Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng jiǎngshùle yī gè hóngwěi de shǐshī gùshì.
• English: This movie tells a grand, epic story.
• Analysis: 宏伟 can describe the scope of a narrative, suggesting it spans a long time or involves major historical events.

Example 10:

• 与古代建筑相比，现代摩天大楼也同样宏伟。
• Pinyin: Yǔ gǔdài jiànzhù xiāng bǐ, xiàndài mótiān dàlóu yě tóngyàng hóngwěi.
• English: Compared to ancient architecture, modern skyscrapers are equally magnificent.
• Analysis: A great sentence structure for making comparisons. It shows that 宏伟 is applicable to both historical and modern marvels.

• `宏伟 (hóngwěi)` vs. `大 (dà)`: This is the most critical distinction for a learner. `大 (dà)` simply means “big” or “large.” 宏伟 means “big and awe-inspiring.” You use `大` for everyday objects, but 宏伟 for things that impress you with their scale and design.
  • Incorrect: 我的新手机屏幕很宏伟。 (My new phone screen is magnificent.)
  • Correct: 我的新手机屏幕很大。 (My new phone screen is big.)
  • Correct: 上海东方明珠塔非常宏伟。 (The Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower is very magnificent.)
• `宏伟 (hóngwěi)` vs. `雄伟 (xióngwěi)`: These are very close synonyms and sometimes interchangeable, especially for mountains and buildings. However, `雄伟 (xióngwěi)` often carries a stronger sense of being “imposing,” “powerful,” or even “masculine” (the character `雄` means male/heroic). 宏伟 is a bit more neutral and broader, making it a better fit for abstract concepts like plans and blueprints.
  • Both OK: 泰山很宏伟 / 泰山很雄伟。 (Mount Tai is majestic.) - `雄伟` is slightly more common for mountains.
  • Better choice: 一个宏伟的计划 (a grand plan) - `雄伟` would sound a bit strange here.
• Formality: Remember, 宏伟 is a formal, literary word. Using it in a very casual conversation to describe something mundane (like a big sandwich) would sound awkward and out of place. Save it for things that genuinely take your breath away.

• 雄伟 (xióngwěi) - A very close synonym for grand/majestic, often implying a more imposing, rugged, or “masculine” power. Frequently used for mountains.
• 壮丽 (zhuànglì) - Magnificent and beautiful. This term emphasizes beauty more than scale, often used for natural scenery like a sunset or a landscape (e.g., `壮丽的景色`).
• 伟大 (wěidà) - Great; mighty. While it shares the character `伟`, this word is almost exclusively used for people, abstract ideas, or achievements (e.g., a great leader, a great country, a great invention), not for physical structures.
• 巨大 (jùdà) - Huge; enormous; gigantic. A neutral word describing immense physical size, but without the connotation of awe or impressive design that 宏伟 has. A huge rock is `巨大的石头`, not `宏伟的石头`.
• 宏大 (hóngdà) - Grand; great in scale. Very similar to 宏伟, but more often used for abstract things like scenes, narratives, themes, or aspirations.
• 抱负 (bàofù) - Ambition; aspiration. A person with 宏伟 goals is said to have great `抱负`.
• 蓝图 (lántú) - Blueprint. A word that is very frequently paired with 宏伟 to describe an ambitious plan for the future (`宏伟的蓝图`).