大
The 大 radical
Big, large
Memory hook
A person standing with arms stretched wide
The 大 radical (read dà) means big, large. The HSK 3.0 data contains 23 characters and 365 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 大 radical
Study this radical's 365 words with flashcards or a quiz.
The free plan drills 15 words per radical. Upgrade to Premium
Characters with the 大 radical
23 charactersHSK 1· 3 characters
HSK 1大
big, large
天
sky, heaven
太
too, excessively
HSK 2· 2 characters
HSK 2头
head
套
to put on; to cover with (verb)
HSK 3· 3 characters
HSK 3夫
husband
失
to lose, lose hold of
奇
strange, odd
HSK 4· 2 characters
HSK 4奋
to rouse oneself, to be elated
奖
prize, award
HSK 5· 3 characters
HSK 5央
center, middle
夹
to pick up (with chopsticks), to clip
奈
how, what
HSK 6· 4 characters
HSK 6夺
to seize, to take by force
奉
to offer up, to dedicate
奏
to play (a musical instrument), to perform music (e.g. play music, perform)
奔
to run
HSK 7-9· 6 characters
HSK 7-9夷
level, flat
夸
praise; compliment
契
contract, agreement
奠
to make an offering; to sacrifice; to present offerings
奢
extravagant, luxurious, wasteful
奥
profound; mysterious; abstruse
Vocabulary with the 大 radical
365 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 大 radical, ordered by HSK level.
The free plan shows 9 words per HSK level (63/365 words of this radical).
not big, not very
today
the day before yesterday
half a day
the day after tomorrow
big, large
university
university student
sky, heaven
not very; not too; not so good
winter
summer
adult; grown-up
loud; loudly
the majority; most
greatly; enormously
everyone; everybody
size
great; mighty
martial arts; kung fu; skill mastered through training
embassy
doctor; physician
approximately; about
approximately; about
sky
to lose
mind; brains
husband
to win a prize
excited, thrilled
front, ahead
behind, at the back
coat, jacket
the public, the masses
general assembly, congress
eldest brother
center
diligent, hardworking
to turn one's head back
to enlarge, to expand
major event
greater than
everyone, everybody
hall, lobby
grand prix, major competition
to lose, to be deprived of
to fight over, to compete for
to bow one's head, to submit
outside; outdoors
ambassador
vigorously, great effort
master, grandmaster
a large number, a large batch
rice (uncooked)
early in the morning, at the crack of dawn
all day long, from morning till night
a head(ful), an amount
all year round, year-round
absolutely no mistakes, one hundred percent safe
to get tipsy; to feel the buzz (usually from drinking)
to make an effort, to put in work
to rush about everywhere, to run around (to handle affairs)
to lose
Why learn vocabulary by the 大 radical?
The 大 radical hints at the meaning big, large. When you meet an unfamiliar character carrying it, you already know part of its meaning before reaching for a dictionary — which is why learners who know their radicals move faster.
How to study: read the memory hook, skim the 23 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 365 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.