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大丈夫. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
大丈夫, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
大丈夫 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
大丈夫 you have here. The definition of the word
大丈夫 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
大丈夫, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
Etymology 1
Attestable in pre-Qin texts.
Pronunciation
Noun
大丈夫
- real man; man of character
男子漢大丈夫,流血不流淚 [MSC, trad.]
男子汉大丈夫,流血不流泪 [MSC, simp.]- nánzǐhàn dàzhàngfū, liúxuè bù liúlèi
- A true man bleeds but never sheds a tear
居天下之廣居,立天下之正位,行天下之大道。得志與民由之,不得志獨行其道。富貴不能淫,貧賤不能移,威武不能屈。此之謂大丈夫。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
居天下之广居,立天下之正位,行天下之大道。得志与民由之,不得志独行其道。富贵不能淫,贫贱不能移,威武不能屈。此之谓大丈夫。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]- From: Mencius, c. 4th century BCE
- Jū tiānxià zhī guǎngjū, lì tiānxià zhī zhèngwèi, xíng tiānxià zhī dàdào. Dézhì yǔ mín yóu zhī, bùdézhì dúxíng qí dào. Fùguì bùnéng yín, pínjiàn bùnéng yí, wēiwǔ bùnéng qū. Cǐ zhī wèi dàzhàngfū.
- If you dwell in the great house of the world, are established in your correct position in the world, walk the great Path of the world; if you attain your ambitions for office, and then share your goodness with the people—or, not attaining your ambitions for office and walking alone on your own Path; if wealth and honor do not dissipate you, poverty and low status do not make you move from your principles; authority and might do not distort you: Then you can be called a “great man.”
前識者,道之華而愚之始也。是以大丈夫處其厚,不處其薄;居其實,不居其華。故去彼取此。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
前识者,道之华而愚之始也。是以大丈夫处其厚,不处其薄;居其实,不居其华。故去彼取此。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]- From: Tao Te Ching, 4th century BCE
- Qiánshí zhě, dào zhī huá ér yú zhī shǐ yě. Shì yǐ dàzhàngfū chù qí hòu, bù chù qí bó; jū qí shí, bù jū qí huá. Gù qù bǐ qǔ cǐ.
- Foreknowledge is the flower of Tao, but of ignorance the beginning. Therefore a great sportsman abides by the solid and dwells not in the superficial. He abides in the fruit and dwells not in the flower. Therefore he discards the latter and chooses the former.
所謂「大丈夫」者,謂其智之大也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
所谓「大丈夫」者,谓其智之大也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]- From: Han Feizi, circa 2nd century BCE
- Suǒwèi “dàzhàngfū” zhě, wèi qí zhì zhī dà yě.
- "A great sportsman" is so called because his wisdom is great.
觀秦皇帝,喟然太息曰:「嗟乎,大丈夫當如此也!」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
观秦皇帝,喟然太息曰:「嗟乎,大丈夫当如此也!」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]- From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
- Guān Qín huángdì, kuìrán tàixī yuē: “Jiēhū, dàzhàngfū dāng rúcǐ yě!”
- When he saw Qin Shihuang, he sighed: "Oh, that's what a man should be like!"
Descendants
See also
Etymology 2
Orthographic borrowing from Japanese 大丈夫 (daijōbu), from Chinese 大丈夫.
Pronunciation
Adjective
大丈夫
- (Internet slang) all right; okay
- 這樣大丈夫?/这样大丈夫? ― Zhèyàng dàzhàngfū? ― Is this okay?
Japanese
- (informal) だいじょぶ (daijobu)
Etymology
From Chinese 大丈夫, equivalent to 大 (dai-) + 丈夫 (jōbu).
Pronunciation
Noun
大丈夫 • (daijōbu) ←だいぢやうぶ (daidyaubu)?
(alternative reading hiragana だいじょうふ, rōmaji daijōfu, historical hiragana だいぢやうふ)
- (archaic) a man of class; a great man
Adjective
大丈夫 • (daijōbu) ←だいぢやうぶ (daidyaubu)?-na (adnominal 大丈夫な (daijōbu na), adverbial 大丈夫に (daijōbu ni))
- (of a person) all right; okay; in good health; uninjured
- Synonym: 無事 (buji)
- 大丈夫ですか。
- Daijōbu desu ka.
- Are you all right?
-
- 大丈夫受かります!
- Daijōbu ukarimasu!
- That’ll be all right. You’ll definitely pass!
- ほんとに⁉
- Honto ni⁉
- Really!?
- (of an object) all right, unbroken, still working
- certain, correct, certifiable
- (after the te form of a verb) indifferent, unconcerned
- Synonyms: かまわない (kamawanai), 差し支えない (sashitsukaenai)
- 遅刻しても大丈夫だ。
- Chikoku shitemo daijōbu da.
- It's no big deal to be late.
- (in response to an offer) no thank you
- Synonyms: いい (ii), 結構 (kekkou), 要らない (iranai)
- レジ袋は大丈夫です。
- Rejibukuro wa daijōbu desu.
- I am fine without a plastic bag.
Usage notes
- In strict terms, declining an offer with 大丈夫 is considered ambiguous. Nonetheless, the usage has become widespread in modern day Japan.
Descendants
References
- 2002, Ineko Kondō; Fumi Takano; Mary E Althaus; et. al., Shogakukan Progressive Japanese-English Dictionary, Third Edition, Tokyo: Shōgakukan, →ISBN.
- Kitahara, Yasuo, editor (2002), 明鏡国語辞典 [Meikyō Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Taishūkan Shoten, →ISBN
- ^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
- ^ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN
Korean
Noun
大丈夫 • (daejangbu) (hangeul 대장부)
- hanja form? of 대장부 (“real man”)
Vietnamese
Noun
大丈夫
- chữ Hán form of đại trượng phu (“great man”).
Yonaguni
Etymology
From Japanese 大丈夫 (daijōbu), from Chinese 大丈夫 (dàzhàngfu).
Pronunciation
Adjective
大丈夫 (daidubu)
- all right
- okay