大人

Étymologie et composants

The Chinese word 大人 (dàrén) is composed of two characters: 大 (dà), meaning "big" or "great", and 人 (rén), meaning "person". Together, they literally mean "big person" or "great person".The word 大人 has been used in Chinese for centuries, and its meaning has evolved over time. In ancient China, 大人 was used as a respectful form of address for people of high status, such as government officials, scholars, and elders. It was also used as a title for the emperor.In modern Chinese, 大人 is still used as a respectful form of address, but it is also used more generally to refer to adults in general. It can be used as a noun, meaning "adult", or as an adjective, meaning "adult-like".The word 大人 is also used in some Chinese idioms and proverbs. For example, the idiom 大人不记小人过 (dàrén bù jì xiǎorén guò) means "a great person does not remember the mistakes of a small person". This idiom teaches us to be forgiving and not to hold grudges.The word 大人 is a versatile word that can be used in a variety of contexts. It is an important word to know for HSK learners, as it is used frequently in both spoken and written Chinese.