hóngdà: 宏大 - Grand, Epic, Magnificent

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• Summary: Learn the meaning of 宏大 (hóngdà), a Chinese adjective used to describe something that is not just big, but grand, epic, and magnificent in scale, vision, or ambition. This page breaks down its cultural significance, practical usage for describing everything from national projects to epic films, and provides numerous example sentences to help you master this powerful word.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): hóngdà
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: Grand, epic, magnificent, or vast in scope and ambition.
• In a Nutshell: 宏大 (hóngdà) is the word you reach for when “big” (大, dà) just isn't enough. It describes things that inspire awe due to their immense scale, complexity, or vision. Think of the grand narrative of a historical epic, the magnificent architecture of a palace, or the ambitious blueprint for a nation's future. It implies not just size, but also importance and grandeur.

• 宏 (hóng): This character means “grand,” “great,” or “magnificent.” It is composed of the “roof” radical (宀) over 厷, which can be thought of as an arm or an embrace. Together, they evoke the idea of a vast, all-encompassing space or concept.
• 大 (dà): This is one of the most basic and common characters in Chinese, meaning “big” or “large.” It's a simple pictograph of a person with their arms stretched out wide to indicate size.
• When combined, 宏大 (hóngdà) literally means “grand-big.” The characters reinforce each other to create a powerful adjective that signifies something impressive and vast in every dimension—physically, conceptually, and aspirationally.

The term 宏大 (hóngdà) resonates deeply with both historical and modern Chinese culture, which has long valued large-scale thinking and collective endeavors. From the construction of the Great Wall and the Grand Canal in ancient times to modern marvels like the Three Gorges Dam and the Belt and Road Initiative, there is a cultural appreciation for projects of 宏大 vision. A useful comparison for Western learners is to contrast 宏大 with the English word “ambitious.” While an individual's career plan can be “ambitious,” that word often focuses on personal achievement. 宏大, on the other hand, is more frequently applied to collective goals, national plans, architectural wonders, or artistic works that affect or represent a larger group. It speaks to a value system that often prioritizes long-term, large-scale, collective progress and legacy. The concept of a “宏大叙事” (hóngdà xùshì), or “grand narrative,” is also central to how history and national identity are often framed.

宏大 is a formal and evocative adjective used in a variety of modern contexts to express admiration for scale and vision.

• Plans and Visions (计划/蓝图): It's commonly used to describe ambitious plans for a company, a city, or the country. A “宏大的蓝图” (hóngdà de lántú) is a “grand blueprint” for the future.
• Architecture and Scenery (建筑/场面): It describes buildings, cityscapes, or natural landscapes that are imposing and magnificent. For example, the opening ceremony of the Olympics could be described as “场面宏大” (chǎngmiàn hóngdà).
• Arts and Literature (叙事/作品): In film, literature, and music, 宏大 refers to an epic scope. A historical drama covering generations might have a “宏大叙事” (hóngdà xùshì), or an “epic narrative.” A symphony with a powerful, sweeping sound could be described as “气势宏大” (qìshì hóngdà).
• Connotation: The connotation is overwhelmingly positive, implying awe and respect. However, it can occasionally be used with a slightly critical or skeptical tone to describe a plan that is so grand it seems unrealistic or impractical (i.e., grandiose).

• Example 1:
  • 这是一个非常宏大的计划，需要我们所有人共同努力。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yīgè fēicháng hóngdà de jìhuà, xūyào wǒmen suǒyǒu rén gòngtóng nǔlì.
  • English: This is a very grand plan; it requires all of us to work together.
  • Analysis: Here, 宏大 describes the ambitious scope of a plan or project.
• Example 2:
  • 故宫的建筑群真是气势宏大，令人惊叹。
  • Pinyin: Gùgōng de jiànzhùqún zhēnshì qìshì hóngdà, lìng rén jīngtàn.
  • English: The architectural complex of the Forbidden City is truly magnificent and awe-inspiring.
  • Analysis: Used here to describe the imposing and grand scale of architecture. The phrase “气势宏大” (qìshì hóngdà) is a common collocation meaning “imposing” or “magnificent in scale.”
• Example 3:
  • 这部电影的战争场面十分宏大，效果很震撼。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng de zhànzhēng chǎngmiàn shífēn hóngdà, xiàoguǒ hěn zhènhàn.
  • English: The war scenes in this movie are very epic, and the effect is stunning.
  • Analysis: 宏大 is perfect for describing the large scale of a scene in a film, play, or event.
• Example 4:
  • 他从小就有一个宏大的理想，那就是成为一名科学家。
  • Pinyin: Tā cóngxiǎo jiù yǒu yīgè hóngdà de lǐxiǎng, nà jiùshì chéngwéi yī míng kēxuéjiā.
  • English: Since he was young, he has had a grand ideal, which is to become a scientist.
  • Analysis: This shows 宏大 can describe abstract concepts like ideals or dreams, emphasizing their lofty and ambitious nature.
• Example 5:
  • 历史的宏大画卷在我们面前徐徐展开。
  • Pinyin: Lìshǐ de hóngdà huàjuàn zài wǒmen miànqián xúxú zhǎnkāi.
  • English: The epic scroll of history slowly unfolds before our eyes.
  • Analysis: A very literary and figurative use of 宏大 to describe the vastness of history.
• Example 6:
  • 他的目标听起来很宏大，但似乎完全不切实际。
  • Pinyin: Tā de mùbiāo tīngqǐlái hěn hóngdà, dàn sìhū wánquán bùqièshíjì.
  • English: His goal sounds grand, but it seems completely unrealistic.
  • Analysis: This is an example of the slightly negative connotation, where 宏大 borders on “grandiose” or “overly ambitious.”
• Example 7:
  • 这首交响乐的结尾气势宏大，震撼人心。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shǒu jiāoxiǎngyuè de jiéwěi qìshì hóngdà, zhènhàn rénxīn.
  • English: The ending of this symphony is magnificent and deeply moving.
  • Analysis: Used to describe the powerful, sweeping feel of music.
• Example 8:
  • 许多科幻小说都试图构建一个宏大的世界观。
  • Pinyin: Xǔduō kēhuàn xiǎoshuō dōu shìtú gòujiàn yīgè hóngdà de shìjièguān.
  • English: Many science fiction novels attempt to construct an epic worldview.
  • Analysis: 宏大 is often used with abstract nouns like “worldview” (世界观) or “narrative” (叙事) to denote complexity and scale.
• Example 9:
  • 国家的“一带一路”倡议是一个非常宏大的构想。
  • Pinyin: Guójiā de “yīdài yīlù” chàngyì shì yīgè fēicháng hóngdà de gòuxiǎng.
  • English: The country's “Belt and Road” initiative is a very grand conception.
  • Analysis: A typical real-world example of using 宏大 to describe a large-scale national or international strategy.
• Example 10:
  • 面对如此宏大的工程，每个人都感到了自己的渺小。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì rúcǐ hóngdà de gōngchéng, měi ge rén dōu gǎndào le zìjǐ de miǎoxiǎo.
  • English: Faced with such a magnificent project, everyone felt their own insignificance.
  • Analysis: This sentence contrasts the grandness of the project with the smallness of the individual, highlighting the awe-inspiring power of the word.

• 宏大 (hóngdà) vs. 大 (dà): This is the most common point of confusion. 大 (dà) simply means “big” or “large.” You use it for everyday objects. 宏大 is reserved for things that are grand in scope, vision, or scale. It's about magnificence, not just size.
  • Correct: 这件T恤太大了。 (Zhè jiàn T-xù tài dà le.) - This T-shirt is too big.
  • Incorrect: ~~这件T恤太宏大了。~~ (Zhè jiàn T-xù tài hóngdà le.) - This sounds absurd, like calling a T-shirt an epic masterpiece.
• False Friend: “Grandiose”: In English, “grandiose” often has a negative meaning, implying something is pretentious, overly ambitious, or impractical. While 宏大 *can* be used this way (as in Example 6), its primary connotation is positive and awe-inspiring. Be careful not to assume it's always negative like “grandiose” can be.
• Use with Abstract Nouns: 宏大 excels at modifying abstract nouns that 大 cannot. You can have a 宏大的理想 (grand ideal) or 宏大的叙事 (epic narrative), but you wouldn't typically say a “大的理想.”

• 伟大 (wěidà) - Great, mighty. Often used for people (e.g., a great leader) or abstract achievements (a great invention). It emphasizes impact and moral significance more than scale.
• 巨大 (jùdà) - Huge, gigantic, enormous. This word is a step up from 大 and focuses purely on immense physical size or quantity.
• 雄伟 (xióngwěi) - Majestic, grand. Similar to 宏大, but often used specifically for mountains and impressive buildings, emphasizing their imposing and awe-inspiring beauty.
• 壮观 (zhuàngguān) - Spectacular, magnificent (to view). This describes a sight or scene that is breathtaking to look at, like a waterfall or a fireworks display.
• 庞大 (pángdà) - Colossal, enormous. Often used to describe complex systems, organizations, or populations that are huge and sometimes unwieldy (e.g., a龐大的机构 - a colossal organization).
• 抱负 (bàofù) - (n.) Ambition, aspiration. This is the noun for the personal quality of having grand goals. A person with 抱负 might create a 宏大的计划.
• 蓝图 (lántú) - (n.) Blueprint. This noun is frequently paired with 宏大, as in “宏大的蓝图” (a grand blueprint).
• 叙事 (xùshì) - (n.) Narrative. The phrase “宏大叙事” (grand narrative) is a key concept in literary and social theory in China.