wěidà: 伟大 - Great, Mighty, Grand

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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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.”