Dadu, capital of China during the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1368), modern day Beijing
HSK 6, unknown, rank #17743, Hard
大都
dàdū
on the whole
HSK 6, unknown, rank #17743, Hard
大都
dàdū
also pr. [da4 du1]
HSK 6, unknown, rank #17743, Hard
大都
dàdū
metropolitan
HSK 6, unknown, rank #17743, Hard
大都
dàdōu
for the most part
HSK 6, unknown, rank #17743, Hard
大都
dàdōu
Dadu, capital of China during the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1368), modern day Beijing
HSK 6, unknown, rank #17743, Hard
大都
dàdōu
on the whole
HSK 6, unknown, rank #17743, Hard
大都
dàdōu
also pr. [da4 du1]
HSK 6, unknown, rank #17743, Hard
大都
dàdōu
metropolitan
HSK 6, unknown, rank #17743, Hard
dàdōu(da4dou1)
primary
T4
1for the most part
2Dadu, capital of China during the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1368), modern day Beijing
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March 24, 2026
大都()dàdōu(da4dou1)
大都 (dà dū) refers to 'for the most part' or 'on the whole', indicating a generalization or majority opinion. It can also refer to 'Dadu', the historical capital of China during the Yuan Dynasty, which is present-day Beijing, highlighting its significance in Chinese history.
Frequency#17743DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The term 大都 is deeply rooted in the history of Beijing, the capital city of China, which has served as a political and cultural center for centuries. Understanding this term gives insight into China's historical governance and urban development.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large city skyline (大, meaning 'big') and the sound of a drum (都, pronounced 'du') echoing throughout the metropolis, symbolizing the bustling life of a capital city. Think of the 'big city' where most things happen, making it memorable.
Meanings of 大都
dàdōu(da4dou1)
primary
1for the most part
2Dadu, capital of China during the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1368), modern day Beijing
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 大都
大都Simplified
Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3BCT✓CEFRB2
Podcast: 大都
Podcast: 大都
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AI Study Notes for 大都
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large city skyline (大, meaning 'big') and the sound of a drum (都, pronounced 'du') echoing throughout the metropolis, symbolizing the bustling life of a capital city. Think of the 'big city' where most things happen, making it memorable.
Usage Notes
In informal contexts, 大都 is used to generalize opinions or statements, while in formal writing, it may be less common. Be cautious with tone; ensure to pronounce the first character with a falling tone (dà) and the second with a high level tone (dū). Common collocations include 大多数 (dà duō shù, meaning 'the majority').
HSK Study Tips
While 大都 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects well with HSK Level 3 concepts about cities and general statements. Focus on practicing its pronunciation and usage in contexts discussing opinions or descriptions of places.
Cultural Note
The term 大都 is deeply rooted in the history of Beijing, the capital city of China, which has served as a political and cultural center for centuries. Understanding this term gives insight into China's historical governance and urban development.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 大都 with other similar phrases like 大多数 (dà duō shù). A common mistake is using it in contexts that require more specificity, such as saying '大都的人在学校' (Most people are at school), which should instead specify which group of people.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 大都
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Cultural Notes for 大都
💡Did you know?
在中文中，“大都”常用来表示大部分或大多数，反映了汉语中对于数量的表达习惯。
🏮Cultural insight
The term 大都 is deeply rooted in the history of Beijing, the capital city of China, which has served as a political and cultural center for centuries. Understanding this term gives insight into China's historical governance and urban development.
📜Proverb
有句俗话说：大都不如小数，强调了小而精的事物也能有重要的意义。
Frequently Asked Questions about 大都
大都 is generally considered a neutral term and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is widely accepted in spoken and written Chinese, making it versatile for communication.
You can use 大都 in a sentence to express that something applies to the majority. For instance, you can say, '他大都在家工作,' meaning 'He mostly works from home.' This shows that while he may occasionally work elsewhere, the majority of the time is spent at home.
大都 (dà dū) means 'mostly' or 'for the most part.' It is often used to indicate that something is generally true or applies in most cases. For example, you might say, '大都的人喜欢吃米饭,' which means 'Most people like to eat rice.'
In daily conversation, 大都 is often used to refer to generalizations, such as '大都的人认为这样是对的' (Most people believe this is correct).
While it can be used in formal contexts, it is more common in spoken language and informal writing.
Yes, while it primarily refers to the capital, it can also be used to describe the general state of something in various contexts.
