dàliàng: 大量 - A Large Amount, A Great Quantity, In Bulk

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• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of the essential Chinese word 大量 (dàliàng), which translates to “a large amount,” “a great quantity,” or “in bulk.” This guide is perfect for beginners who want to move beyond 很多 (hěn duō) and describe substantial or massive quantities in more formal or written contexts. Discover its character origins, practical examples from modern China, and key differences from similar words to elevate your Chinese fluency.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dàliàng
• Part of Speech: Adjective, Adverb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A large amount or great quantity of something.
• In a Nutshell: 大量 (dàliàng) is used to describe a significant, substantial, or massive quantity of something. Think of it as the more formal and impactful version of “a lot of.” While 很多 (hěn duō) is for everyday “lots of things,” 大量 is for “a large volume of data,” “a substantial investment,” or “a massive number of products.” It carries a sense of scale and is frequently used in news, business, and academic writing.

• 大 (dà): Big, large, great. This character is a simple pictograph of a person (人) with their arms stretched out wide, as if to say, “It's this big!”
• 量 (liàng): Quantity, amount, to measure. This character originally depicted a tool for measuring grain, with a scoop (斗) on the bottom and a container (里) on top.
• Together, 大量 (dàliàng) literally means “big quantity.” The combination is direct and powerful, creating a word that explicitly refers to a substantial volume or amount.

While 大量 itself isn't a deep philosophical concept, its frequent use in modern China reflects a culture focused on scale, rapid development, and large-scale endeavors. From massive infrastructure projects and huge population statistics to large-volume manufacturing and big data analysis, the concept of “large quantity” is a daily reality. In a Western context, we might differentiate between “a lot” (informal), “many” (neutral), and “a substantial quantity” (formal). 大量 occupies the more formal end of this spectrum. Its usage often signals a shift from personal observation to a more objective, data-driven description. For instance, you might tell a friend you saw “很多 (hěn duō) people” at the park, but a news report would state that “大量 (dàliàng) citizens” attended the event. Using 大量 correctly shows an understanding of formality and context in Chinese.

大量 is extremely common in both written and spoken Chinese, but its formality level is higher than that of its synonyms.

• In Formal and Written Contexts: This is where 大量 shines. It is the default choice in news reports, business plans, academic papers, and official announcements.
  • e.g., 公司投入了大量资金。 (The company invested a large amount of capital.)
  • e.g., 报告引用了大量数据。 (The report cited a large amount of data.)
• As an Adjective: It modifies a noun to mean “a large amount of [noun].”
  • e.g., 大量时间 (dàliàng shíjiān) - a large amount of time
  • e.g., 大量信息 (dàliàng xìnxī) - a large amount of information
• As an Adverb: It modifies a verb, meaning “to do [verb] in large quantities” or “extensively.”
  • e.g., 大量生产 (dàliàng shēngchǎn) - to mass produce
  • e.g., 大量购买 (dàliàng gòumǎi) - to purchase in bulk

The connotation is generally neutral; it's a descriptor of quantity. However, the context determines if the “large amount” is positive (e.g., large profits) or negative (e.g., large casualties).

• Example 1:
  • 为了写这篇论文，他阅读了大量的文献。
  • Pinyin: Wèile xiě zhè piān lùnwén, tā yuèdúle dàliàng de wénxiàn.
  • English: In order to write this thesis, he read a large amount of literature.
  • Analysis: This is a perfect example of a formal, academic context. Using 很多 (hěn duō) here would sound too casual for the situation.
• Example 2:
  • 这家工厂每个月都会生产大量的手机。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngchǎng měi gè yuè dōu huì shēngchǎn dàliàng de shǒujī.
  • English: This factory produces a large quantity of mobile phones every month.
  • Analysis: Here, 大量 emphasizes the industrial scale of production, fitting for a business or economic context.
• Example 3:
  • 互联网为我们提供了大量的免费学习资源。
  • Pinyin: Hùliánwǎng wèi wǒmen tígōngle dàliàng de miǎnfèi xuéxí zīyuán.
  • English: The internet provides us with a large amount of free learning resources.
  • Analysis: This describes a vast, almost uncountable quantity of information, where 大量 is more suitable than a simple “many.”
• Example 4:
  • 暴雨过后，城市出现了大量积水。
  • Pinyin: Bàoyǔ guòhòu, chéngshì chūxiànle dàliàng jīshuǐ.
  • English: After the storm, a large amount of standing water appeared in the city.
  • Analysis: This sentence would likely be found in a news report. 大量 effectively conveys the severity and scale of the flooding.
• Example 5:
  • 我们需要大量招聘新员工来支持业务扩张。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào dàliàng zhāopìn xīn yuángōng lái zhīchí yèwù kuòzhāng.
  • English: We need to hire new employees in large numbers to support business expansion.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 大量 functions as an adverb modifying “to hire” (招聘), meaning “to hire in large quantities.”
• Example 6:
  • 这次促销活动吸引了大量的顾客。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì cùxiāo huódòng xīyǐnle dàliàng de gùkè.
  • English: This sales promotion attracted a large number of customers.
  • Analysis: A common phrase in business and marketing to describe a successful event. The scale is the key piece of information.
• Example 7:
  • 长期看手机会对眼睛造成大量的伤害。
  • Pinyin: Chángqī kàn shǒujī huì duì yǎnjīng zàochéng dàliàng de shānghài.
  • English: Looking at a mobile phone for a long time can cause a great deal of damage to the eyes.
  • Analysis: Here, 大量 is used with an abstract noun (伤害, damage/harm) to emphasize the severity and extent of the negative impact.
• Example 8:
  • 科学家在实验中收集了大量的数据。
  • Pinyin: Kēxuéjiā zài shíyàn zhōng shōujíle dàliàng de shùjù.
  • English: The scientists collected a large amount of data during the experiment.
  • Analysis: “Big data” is a key concept today, and 大量数据 (dàliàng shùjù) is the standard term for it.
• Example 9:
  • 谣言在社交媒体上被大量转发。
  • Pinyin: Yáoyán zài shèjiāo méitǐ shàng bèi dàliàng zhuǎnfā.
  • English: The rumor was forwarded in large numbers on social media.
  • Analysis: Another adverbial use. 大量 modifies “forwarded” (转发), indicating that the action was performed many times by many people.
• Example 10:
  • 建立一个新品牌需要投入大量的时间和精力。
  • Pinyin: Jiànlì yīgè xīn pǐnpái xūyào tóurù dàliàng de shíjiān hé jīnglì.
  • English: Establishing a new brand requires investing a large amount of time and energy.
  • Analysis: Perfect for describing uncountable concepts like time (时间) and energy (精力).

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 大量 (dàliàng) and 很多 (hěn duō).

• Formality: This is the biggest difference.
  • 大量: More formal, suitable for writing, reports, news, and serious discussions.
  • 很多: More informal, common in daily conversation.
• Emphasis on Scale:
  • 大量 implies a truly substantial, massive, or bulk quantity. It often suggests an amount that is almost too large to count easily.
  • 很多 just means “a lot” or “many” and can be used for any quantity that is more than a few.

Common Mistake: Using 大量 in casual, everyday situations.

• Incorrect: 我今天吃了大量的苹果。 (Wǒ jīntiān chīle dàliàng de píngguǒ.)
  • Why it's wrong: This sounds strange and overly formal, like you're writing a scientific report on your diet. Unless you ate an unbelievable, newsworthy number of apples, this is unnatural.
• Correct: 我今天吃了很多苹果。 (Wǒ jītiān chīle hěn duō píngguǒ.)
  • Analysis: This simply means “I ate a lot of apples today,” which is perfect for casual conversation.

Think of it this way: If you can substitute it with “a substantial amount of” or “in large quantities” in English, 大量 is probably a good fit. If “a lot of” or “lots of” sounds more natural, use 很多.

• 很多 (hěn duō) - The most common and informal word for “a lot” or “many.” A direct, casual synonym.
• 许多 (xǔ duō) - “Many,” “a great deal of.” It's a bridge between 很多 and 大量 in formality, often used in writing but less formal than 大量.
• 众多 (zhòng duō) - “Numerous,” “multitudinous.” Almost exclusively used for a large number of countable things, especially people, and emphasizes the sheer count of individuals.
• 少数 (shǎo shù) - “A small number,” “a few,” “minority.” The direct antonym of 大量.
• 批量 (pī liàng) - “In batches,” “in bulk.” This term is specifically related to production or processing. While related to large quantities, it emphasizes that things are handled in standardized groups. (e.g., 批量生产 - batch production).
• 大规模 (dà guī mó) - “Large-scale.” This describes the scale or scope of an action or event, rather than the quantity of items. (e.g., 大规模投资 - large-scale investment).
• 丰富 (fēng fù) - “Abundant,” “plentiful,” “rich.” This describes a large quantity in terms of variety and richness, not just sheer numbers (e.g., 丰富的经验 - rich experience).