Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Big; large; great: Indicates something of considerable size, extent, or importance. It often corresponds to the concept of "major" or "grand."
   • Major; main: Used to denote something that is primary, principal, or of the highest rank or category.

2. Adverb (colloquial):

   • Very; extremely; immensely: Used to intensify an adjective or verb, indicating a high degree.
   • Carelessly; just to get it over with; without much thought: Describes doing something in a hasty, arbitrary, or reckless manner, often because no better option seems available.

3. Prefix:

   • A bound morpheme placed before nouns, verbs, or adjectives to form compounds meaning "big," "great," "major," or "on a large scale."

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Đây là một sự kiện đại. (This is a great/big event.)
  • Anh ấy là một đại gia. (He is a tycoon/magnate [lit. a big household].)

• Adverb (intensifier):

  • Hôm nay trời nóng đại. (Today it is extremely hot.)
  • Cô ấy cười đại. (She laughed heartily/immensely.)

• Adverb (carelessly):

  • Tôi không biết đáp án, nên tôi chọn đại. (I didn't know the answer, so I chose randomly.)
  • Cứ làm đại đi! (Just do it any old way!/Just get it done!)

• Prefix:

  • đại học (university [lit. great learning])
  • đại thắng (great victory)

Advanced Usage

• "đại ý": The main idea, gist.

  • Đại ý của bài viết là gì? (What is the main idea of the article?)

• "đại khái": Roughly, approximately, in general terms.

  • Tôi chỉ hiểu đại khái. (I only understand roughly.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đại từ (n): Pronoun.

  • "Tôi" là một đại từ. ("I" is a pronoun.)

• Đại lộ (n): Boulevard, avenue (a large road).

  • Chúng tôi đi dọc theo đại lộ. (We walked along the boulevard.)

• Đại diện (v/n): To represent; a representative.

  • Cô ấy đại diện cho công ty. (She represents the company.)

Synonyms

• Adjective: Large, grand, major, significant.
• Adverb (intensifier): Very, extremely, terribly.
• Adverb (carelessly): Randomly, arbitrarily, hastily.

Related Idioms

• Đại náo: To cause a big commotion or uproar.

  • Bọn trẻ đại náo cả căn phòng. (The children caused a huge commotion in the room.)

• Đại sự: A major/important matter or event.

  • Đây quả là một đại sự. (This is truly a major event.)

1. big; great; very, much