Chinese word

长大

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhǎng dà

Meaning

  • verbgrow up

Example

我在城市里长大。wǒ zài chéng shì lǐ zhǎng dà

I grew up in the city.

Illustration for 长大 (grow up)

More examples

现在很多孩子很早就长大了。xiàn zài hěn duō hái zi hěn zǎo jiù zhǎng dà le

Nowadays, many children grow up very early.

Core concept

Growth that carries a living thing toward greater size, development, and maturity.

Common phrases

  • 长大了zhǎng dà le

    grow up

  • 长大以后zhǎng dà yǐ hòu

    after growing up

  • 慢慢长大màn màn zhǎng dà

    grow up gradually

Similar words

成长chéng zhǎng: Gradually develop abilities and ways of thinking through experience and the passage of time.
生长shēng zhǎng: Grow naturally in size as plants, animals, or children's bodies develop.
发育fā yù: Develop physically as the body or a body part gradually forms and works better.
长高zhǎng gāo: Become taller as height increases.

Definition in Chinese

指随着年龄或时间增长，身体和心理逐渐变大并趋于成熟的过程。zhǐ suí zhe nián líng huò shí jiān zēng zhǎng shēn tǐ hé xīn lǐ zhú jiàn biàn dà bìng qū yú chéng shú de guò chéng

Word origin

长 (zhǎng, "grow") + 大 (dà, "big") combines increasing size with the idea of reaching a more developed state.

Usage tips

  • The word can describe becoming an adult without stating an exact age, so it focuses on a change in development rather than a birthday.

Other meanings

  • growverb
  • get biggerverb
  • become an adultverb

Word lists with this word