太 (tài) - too, very, extremely & highest, greatest

太Tone 4

tài ｜ 4 strokes ｜ radical: 大

树檀

太 · tài

too, very, extremely;

highest, greatest;

prefix for senior relatives;

used in terms for space and celestial bodies.

too, very, extremelyhighest, greatestprefix for senior relatives

Usage highlights

too muchtoo bigvery goodsunPacific Oceanimperial court

Synonyms

  • 极— extremely, utmost
  • 甚— very, extremely
  • 非常— very, extremely

Antonyms

  • 微— slight, tiny
  • 小— small, little

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The weather is too hot (太热).
  • This is very good (太好).
  • The Pacific Ocean (太平洋) is the largest ocean.
  • My grandmother (奶奶) is my paternal grandmother (奶奶).

Collocations

  • too much(太多)
  • too big(太大)
  • very good(太好)
  • sun(太阳)
  • Pacific Ocean(太平洋)
  • imperial court(朝廷)

Idioms

  • Peace reigns under heaven(太平盛世)
  • Too clever by half(聪明反被聪明误)
  • The ultimate polarity(太极)
  • Extreme joy begets sorrow(乐极生悲)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese philosophy, 太 appears in 太极 (Taiji), representing the supreme ultimate from which Yin and Yang originate.
  • Used as an honorific prefix for senior relatives, e.g., 太爷爷 (great-grandfather).
  • Historically used in imperial titles, e.g., 太子 (crown prince).

FAQ