Chinese–EnglishWith examples

老大

lǎo dà · lao da

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 7–9

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. old age
  2. very
  3. eldest child in a family
  4. leader of a group
  5. boss
  6. captain of a boat
  7. leader of a criminal gang
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In a conversation

0:15 cartoon

Eldest child

  1. Qiqi

    你们(nǐmen)有(yǒu)兄弟(xiōngdì)姐妹(jiěmèi)吗(ma)？

    Do you have brothers or sisters?

  2. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)是(shì)老大(lǎodà)，下面(xiàmiàn)有(yǒu)两个(liǎnggè)弟弟(dìdi)。

    I am the eldest, with two younger brothers.

  3. Qiqi

    老大(lǎodà)很(hěn)辛苦(xīnkǔ)吧(ba)？

    The eldest has a hard time, right?

  4. Liangliang

    对(duì)，他们(tāmen)吵架(chǎojià)，我(wǒ)得(děi)管(guǎn)。

    Yes. When they fight, I have to step in.

  5. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)也(yě)是(shì)老大(lǎodà)，可是(kěshì)我(wǒ)妹妹(mèimei)说了算(shuōlesuàn)。

    I am the eldest too, but my little sister makes the decisions.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

他(tā)是(shì)我(wǒ)们(men)公(gōng)司(sī)的(de)老(lǎo)大(dà)，大(dà)家(jiā)都(dōu)听(tīng)他(tā)的(de)。

He is the boss of our company, and everyone listens to him.

02

家(jiā)里(lǐ)老(lǎo)大(dà)总(zǒng)是(shì)要(yào)照(zhào)顾(gù)弟(dì)弟(di)妹(mèi)妹(mei)。

The eldest child in the family always has to take care of the younger siblings.

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Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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