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大学 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
大学dàxuécollegeHSK 1, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #712, Easy
大学dàxuéthe Great Learning, one of the Four Books 四書|四书[Si4 shu1] in ConfucianismHSK 1, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #712, Easy, colloquial, formal, education
dàxué(da4xue2)da xue T4
  1. 1college
  2. 2the Great Learning, one of the Four Books 四書|四书[Si4 shu1] in Confucianism
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March 24, 2026

大学(大學)dàxué(da4xue2)

大学 (dàxué) primarily refers to a college or university, an institution of higher education where students pursue advanced studies. Additionally, it also denotes 'The Great Learning,' a classic text in Confucian philosophy that emphasizes the importance of education and moral development.

Strokes11Frequency#712DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, attending a 大学 is considered a significant achievement and is often associated with social status and future career opportunities. The importance of education is deeply rooted in Confucian values, as highlighted in 'The Great Learning.'

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant (大) building that represents a university filled with students learning and growing. The character for 大 (big) visually resembles a person with arms raised in excitement, symbolizing the vast knowledge one can gain at a university.

Meanings of 大学

dàxué(da4xue2)
1college
2the Great Learning, one of the Four Books 四書|四书[Si4 shu1] in Confucianism
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About 大学

大学Simplified
大學Traditional
11Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1YCTL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

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Podcast: 大学

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AI Study Notes for 大学

Quick Contrast

学院 (xuéyuàn) refers specifically to a college or department within a university, while 大学 (dàxué) denotes the university as a whole.

Usage Notes

When using 大学 in conversation, remember it typically refers to institutions of higher learning, so context is key. Avoid using it in overly casual settings when discussing academic topics, as it may come off as too informal. Common collocations include '大学生' (college student) and '大学课程' (university courses).

HSK Study Tips

大学 is an essential term for HSK Level 4 learners, connecting to other educational vocabulary like '学校' (school) and '老师' (teacher). Focus on using it in sentences about your educational background or aspirations.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 大学 with 学校 (xuéxiào), which means 'school' in a more general sense. For example, saying '我在大学上学' (I attend school at university) is correct, but saying '我在大学工作' (I work at university) may imply employment at the university rather than attending as a student.

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Pronunciation of 大学

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Component Characters

大dàbig
HSK 13 strokes大
View full entry
学xuéto learn
HSK 18 strokes子
View full entry

How to say college in Chinese

“college” in Chinese is大学dàxué

大学 (dàxué) primarily refers to a college or university, an institution of higher education where students pursue advanced studies. Additionally, it also denotes 'The Great Learning,' a classic text in Confucian philosophy that emphasizes the importance of education and moral development.

When to use 大学

When using 大学 in conversation, remember it typically refers to institutions of higher learning, so context is key. Avoid using it in overly casual settings when discussing academic topics, as it may come off as too informal. Common collocations include '大学生' (college student) and '大学课程' (university courses).

大学 or something close to it

学院 (xuéyuàn) refers specifically to a college or department within a university, while 大学 (dàxué) denotes the university as a whole.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 大学 with 学校 (xuéxiào), which means 'school' in a more general sense. For example, saying '我在大学上学' (I attend school at university) is correct, but saying '我在大学工作' (I work at university) may imply employment at the university rather than attending as a student.

Write 大学

大
学

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Cultural Notes for 大学

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While both Western and Chinese cultures value higher education, in China, the pressure to gain admission to a prestigious 大学 can be more intense, reflecting broader societal expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions about 大学

大学 translates to 'college' or 'university' and also refers to 'The Great Learning' in Confucian thought.

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