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March 24, 2026
大于(大於)dàyú(da4yu2)
The term '大于' (dà yú) means 'greater than' or 'more than.' It is commonly used in mathematical expressions or comparisons, often to indicate that one quantity exceeds another. This phrase is used in both spoken and written contexts, especially in academic or technical discussions.
Frequency#14779DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
'大于' is frequently found in educational settings, especially in subjects like mathematics and statistics, which are highly valued in Chinese culture. The emphasis on precise measurements and comparisons reflects the importance placed on accuracy in academic and professional fields in China.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant (大) standing over a smaller figure, symbolizing 'greater than.' The character for '大' resembles a person with arms outstretched, emphasizing size, while '于' can be thought of as a connector, showing the relationship of comparison in a mathematical sentence.
Meanings of 大于
dàyú(da4yu2)
1greater than
2bigger than
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About 大于
大于Simplified
大於Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 大于
Podcast: 大于
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AI Study Notes for 大于
Quick Contrast
小于 (xiǎo yú, less than) — use 大于 when indicating that a quantity exceeds another, not when it falls short.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a giant (大) standing over a smaller figure, symbolizing 'greater than.' The character for '大' resembles a person with arms outstretched, emphasizing size, while '于' can be thought of as a connector, showing the relationship of comparison in a mathematical sentence.
Usage Notes
Be cautious of tone when pronouncing '大于' as it has two falling tones. It is often used in formal contexts such as mathematics or economics, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include '大于零' (greater than zero) or '大于等于' (greater than or equal to).
HSK Study Tips
Although '大于' is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects well with mathematical terms and comparative adjectives. Students at this level should focus on understanding how this term fits into expressions of comparison, which is a common structure in Mandarin.
Cultural Note
'大于' is frequently found in educational settings, especially in subjects like mathematics and statistics, which are highly valued in Chinese culture. The emphasis on precise measurements and comparisons reflects the importance placed on accuracy in academic and professional fields in China.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '大于' with '大于等于' (greater than or equal to), using it incorrectly in mathematical contexts. For example, saying 'x 大于 y 等于' (x is greater than y equals) is incorrect; instead, use 'x 大于等于 y' for clarity.
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Pronunciation of 大于
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'大于' is frequently found in educational settings, especially in subjects like mathematics and statistics, which are highly valued in Chinese culture. The emphasis on precise measurements and comparisons reflects the importance placed on accuracy in academic and professional fields in China.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, mathematical symbols like 'greater than' are often used in a more casual or simplified context, while in Chinese, formal phrases like '大于' are necessary to clearly articulate comparisons in both spoken and written forms.
Frequently Asked Questions about 大于
While 大于 is primarily used in mathematical contexts, it can appear in everyday conversation when discussing quantities, comparisons, or preferences. For example, someone might say '我的收入大于我的支出', meaning 'My income is greater than my expenses'.
The opposite of 大于 is 小于 (xiǎo yú), which means 'less than'. You can use both terms together to make comparisons, such as 'A 大于 B and A 小于 C', which means 'A is greater than B and A is less than C'.
大于 (dà yú) translates to 'greater than' in English. It is commonly used in mathematical contexts to compare values. For instance, you might say '5 大于 3', which means '5 is greater than 3'.
To use 大于 in a sentence, you typically place it between two numbers or quantities. For example, you could say '这个数大于那个数', meaning 'This number is greater than that number'. It's often used in both everyday conversations and formal mathematical discussions.
You can say '5 大于 3' to mean '5 is greater than 3.'
'大于' is typically used in formal or academic contexts rather than in everyday conversation.
The opposite is '小于' (xiǎo yú), which means 'less than'.
