dàjúwéizhòng: 大局为重 - The Bigger Picture is More Important

• Keywords: dajuweizhong, dàjúwéizhòng, 大局为重, meaning of dajuweizhong, Chinese bigger picture, greater good, collective interest, sacrifice for the group, Chinese collectivism, Chinese cultural values
• Summary: 大局为重 (dàjúwéizhòng) is a fundamental Chinese idiom and cultural concept that means “the bigger picture is the top priority.” It calls for setting aside personal interests, feelings, or minor disputes for the sake of the overall situation, the collective good, or a more significant long-term goal. This principle is deeply ingrained in Chinese society and is frequently invoked in family, business, and political contexts to encourage unity and self-sacrifice for the benefit of the group.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dàjúwéizhòng
• Part of Speech: Idiom (Chengyu)
• HSK Level: N/A (Advanced)
• Concise Definition: The overall situation (the bigger picture) should be regarded as the most important consideration.
• In a Nutshell: Think of `大局为重` as the ultimate call for perspective. It's a phrase used to persuade someone (or oneself) to rise above petty disagreements, personal inconvenience, or immediate desires to protect a more important, shared objective. It's not just about “taking one for the team”; it's a deeply held cultural value rooted in the idea that individual success and well-being are intrinsically linked to the health and harmony of the larger group, be it the family, the company, or the nation.

• 大 (dà): Big, large, great.
• 局 (jú): Situation, circumstance; a game (like chess); a bureau or office.
• 为 (wéi): To be, to act as, to become; for the sake of.
• 重 (zhòng): Heavy, weighty, important, significant.

These characters combine to form a clear meaning: `大局 (dàjú)` refers to the “big situation” or “the overall picture.” `为重 (wéi zhòng)` means “acts as the important thing” or “is the priority.” Literally, the phrase translates to: “The big situation is the priority.”

`大局为重` is a cornerstone of Chinese collectivist culture, heavily influenced by Confucian values that prioritize group harmony and social order. While Western cultures, particularly in the United States, often celebrate individualism and the “squeaky wheel that gets the grease,” Chinese culture traditionally values those who can demonstrate maturity and wisdom by subordinating their own needs for the group's benefit. A Western comparison might be the phrase “for the greater good” or the Star Trek maxim, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” However, `大局为重` is more than just a philosophical ideal; it's a practical, everyday social tool. It's used to manage conflict, enforce decisions, and maintain stability. An employee might be asked to work overtime without complaint for the sake of a major project, a child might be told to apologize to a cousin to keep family peace—both under the guiding principle of `大局为重`. It reflects a worldview where the individual is a single piece in a complex game of Go (围棋 - wéiqí), and the most important goal is not the success of one piece, but the victory of the entire board.

This idiom is highly versatile and used in both formal and informal settings.

• In Business and the Workplace: A manager might use this phrase to rally a team during a difficult period, asking them to put aside personal grievances or workload complaints to meet a critical deadline. It frames the request not as an order, but as a shared responsibility for the company's success.
• In Politics and Government: This is a very common phrase in official rhetoric. The government may justify unpopular policies (e.g., city-wide lockdowns, construction projects that require relocation) by stating they are necessary for the “bigger picture” of national security or economic development.
• In Family and Social Life: An elder might use this to mediate a dispute between younger family members, urging them to `大局为重` to preserve family harmony, especially during important events like the Spring Festival. It's a call to prioritize relationships over being “right.”

The connotation is generally positive, implying wisdom and selflessness. However, it can sometimes be used to pressure individuals into silence or to dismiss legitimate concerns by framing them as selfish.

• Example 1:
  • 虽然你对这个决定很不满意，但现在我们必须大局为重，支持公司的计划。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán nǐ duì zhège juédìng hěn bù mǎnyì, dàn xiànzài wǒmen bìxū dàjúwéizhòng, zhīchí gōngsī de jìhuà.
  • English: Although you are very unhappy with this decision, right now we must put the bigger picture first and support the company's plan.
  • Analysis: A classic workplace scenario. A manager is acknowledging an employee's feelings but emphasizing that the company's collective goal is the priority.
• Example 2:
  • 为了孩子，我们暂时别吵了，凡事要以大局为重。
  • Pinyin: Wèile háizi, wǒmen zànshí bié chǎo le, fánshì yào yǐ dàjúwéizhòng.
  • English: For the sake of the children, let's not argue for now. In all matters, we should prioritize the overall situation.
  • Analysis: Used in a family context to stop a conflict. The “bigger picture” here is the children's well-being and a harmonious family environment.
• Example 3:
  • 个人利益要服从集体利益，我们每个人都应该有大局为重的意识。
  • Pinyin: Gèrén lìyì yào fúcóng jítǐ lìyì, wǒmen měi gè rén dōu yīnggāi yǒu dàjúwéizhòng de yìshí.
  • English: Personal interests must yield to collective interests; every one of us should have an awareness of prioritizing the greater good.
  • Analysis: This sentence has a more formal, almost political tone, articulating the core philosophy behind the idiom.
• Example 4:
  • 我知道你很累，但团队还差最后一步就成功了。请再坚持一下，大局为重！
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhīdào nǐ hěn lèi, dàn tuánduì hái chà zuìhòu yībù jiù chénggōng le. Qǐng zài jiānchí yīxià, dàjúwéizhòng!
  • English: I know you're tired, but the team is just one step away from success. Please hang in there a little longer, the bigger picture is what matters!
  • Analysis: A motivational use of the phrase, encouraging someone to make a final push by reminding them of the shared goal.
• Example 5:
  • 面对自然灾害，全国人民都大局为重，共同抗击困难。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì zìrán zāihài, quánguó rénmín dōu dàjúwéizhòng, gòngtóng kàngjí kùnnán.
  • English: Facing the natural disaster, the people of the whole country put the overall situation first and fought the difficulties together.
  • Analysis: This is typical of news reports or official statements, describing a collective, national-level effort.
• Example 6:
  • 他放弃了出国留学的机会，选择留下来照顾生病的父母，真是大局为重。
  • Pinyin: Tā fàngqìle chūguó liúxué de jīhuì, xuǎnzé liú xiàlái zhàogù shēngbìng de fùmǔ, zhēnshi dàjúwéizhòng.
  • English: He gave up the opportunity to study abroad and chose to stay and take care of his sick parents; that's truly putting the big picture first.
  • Analysis: Here, the “bigger picture” is family responsibility, which is seen as more important than personal ambition. This is a common and highly praised application of the principle.
• Example 7:
  • 在这次谈判中，双方都同意大局为重，暂时搁置争议。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhè cì tánpàn zhōng, shuāngfāng dōu tóngyì dàjúwéizhòng, zànshí gēzhì zhēngyì.
  • English: In this negotiation, both sides agreed to prioritize the overall situation and temporarily set aside their disputes.
  • Analysis: A diplomatic or business context. `大局为重` is the reason for reaching a compromise or a temporary truce.
• Example 8:
  • 算了，我不跟他计较了，毕竟是多年的朋友，还是大局为重。
  • Pinyin: Suàn le, wǒ bù gēn tā jìjiào le, bìjìng shì duōnián de péngyǒu, háishì dàjúwéizhòng.
  • English: Forget it, I won't argue with him anymore. After all, we've been friends for years; it's better to prioritize the bigger picture.
  • Analysis: An internal monologue or informal conversation. The “bigger picture” is the friendship itself, which is deemed more valuable than winning a small argument.
• Example 9:
  • 领导总是说要我们大局为重，但我们个人的困难谁来解决呢？
  • Pinyin: Lǐngdǎo zǒngshì shuō yào wǒmen dàjúwéizhòng, dàn wǒmen gèrén de kùnnán shéi lái jiějué ne?
  • English: The boss always tells us to focus on the bigger picture, but who is going to solve our individual problems?
  • Analysis: This example shows the negative or manipulative side of the phrase. It's used here in a complaint, highlighting how the concept can be used to dismiss individual suffering.
• Example 10:
  • 请大家冷静一下，想想我们的共同目标。我们必须大局为重。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng dàjiā lěngjìng yīxià, xiǎng xiǎng wǒmen de gòngtóng mùbiāo. Wǒmen bìxū dàjúwéizhòng.
  • English: Everyone please calm down and think about our common goal. We must prioritize the bigger picture.
  • Analysis: A direct and forceful call to action, used to de-escalate a tense situation and refocus a group.

• Not Just “Letting It Go”: A common mistake is to equate `大局为重` with simply “letting it go” or avoiding conflict. It's more active than that. It is a conscious decision to sacrifice a smaller, personal interest for a specific, larger goal. It's about strategic prioritization, not passive surrender.
• Not for Trivial Matters: Using this phrase for minor personal preferences is incorrect and can sound sarcastic or manipulative. It's reserved for situations where there are significant stakes for a group.
  • Incorrect Usage: 我想看电影，你想逛街，我们应该大局为重，所以听我的去看电影吧。(I want to see a movie, you want to go shopping. We should focus on the bigger picture, so let's listen to me and see a movie.)
  • Why it's wrong: This is just a personal conflict of interest. There is no “bigger picture” or collective good at stake.
• False Friend: “Being Pragmatic”: While `大局为重` is a pragmatic approach, it's not synonymous with “being pragmatic.” Pragmatism in English can be entirely self-serving (e.g., “It's pragmatic to flatter your boss to get a promotion”). `大局为重`, by its very definition, involves considering the well-being of the collective over the self.

• 顾全大局 (gùquán dàjú) - A verb phrase meaning “to take the overall situation into account.” It describes the action of someone who is acting with `大局为重` in mind.
• 集体主义 (jítǐ zhǔyì) - Collectivism. The social and political philosophy that underpins the value of `大局为重`.
• 个人主义 (gèrén zhǔyì) - Individualism. The ideological antonym to collectivism.
• 舍小家为大家 (shě xiǎo jiā wèi dà jiā) - To sacrifice one's small family (小家) for the big family (大家, i.e., the collective/nation). A more extreme and patriotic expression of the same core idea.
• 以和为贵 (yǐ hé wéi guì) - “Harmony is precious.” A core Confucian value that often serves as the motivation for choosing to `大局为重`.
• 求同存异 (qiú tóng cún yì) - To seek common ground while reserving differences. A diplomatic strategy often employed to achieve the “bigger picture” goal.
• 忍辱负重 (rěnrǔ fùzhòng) - To endure humiliation and bear a heavy burden. This describes the personal sacrifice someone might make when they decide that the situation calls for `大局为重`.
• 委曲求全 (wěiqū qiúquán) - To swallow a grievance to accommodate others or to achieve a compromise. This is often the personal feeling or action that results from prioritizing the bigger picture.