大丈夫

Chinese

		big; great; huge big; great; huge; large; major; wide; deep; oldest; eldest; doctor	husband; man; male
simp. and trad. (大丈夫)		大	丈夫

Etymology 1

Attestable in pre-Qin texts.

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): dàzhàngfu, dàzhàngfū

(Zhuyin): ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄤˋ ˙ㄈㄨ, ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄤˋ ㄈㄨ
Cantonese (Jyutping): daai⁶ zoeng⁶ fu¹
Hakka (Sixian, PFS): thai-chhong-fû
Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ): tāi-tiōng-hu

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese, colloquial, standard in Mainland)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: dàzhàngfu
  - Zhuyin: ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄤˋ ˙ㄈㄨ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: dàjhàngfů
  - Wade–Giles: ta⁴-chang⁴-fu⁵
  - Yale: dà-jàng-fu
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: dahjanq.fu
  - Palladius: дачжанфу (dačžanfu)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹ fu¹/
- (Standard Chinese, standard in Taiwan, literary alternative in Mainland)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: dàzhàngfū
  - Zhuyin: ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄤˋ ㄈㄨ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: dàjhàngfu
  - Wade–Giles: ta⁴-chang⁴-fu¹
  - Yale: dà-jàng-fū
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: dahjanqfu
  - Palladius: дачжанфу (dačžanfu)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹ fu⁵⁵/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
  - Jyutping: daai⁶ zoeng⁶ fu¹
  - Yale: daaih jeuhng fū
  - Cantonese Pinyin: daai⁶ dzoeng⁶ fu¹
  - Guangdong Romanization: dai⁶ zêng⁶ fu¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /taːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ²² fuː⁵⁵/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: thai-chhong-fû
  - Hakka Romanization System: tai cong fu^ˊ
  - Hagfa Pinyim: tai⁴ cong⁴ fu¹
  - Sinological IPA: /tʰai̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰoŋ⁵⁵ fu²⁴/
Southern Min
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tāi-tiōng-hu
  - Tâi-lô: tāi-tiōng-hu
  - Phofsit Daibuun: daixdioxnghw
  - Sinological IPA (Xiamen): /tai²²⁻²¹ tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ hu⁴⁴/
  - Sinological IPA (Taipei): /tai³³⁻¹¹ tiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ hu⁴⁴/
  - Sinological IPA (Kaohsiung): /tai³³⁻²¹ tiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ hu⁴⁴/

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 [Pinyin]
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. 4^th 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. [Pinyin]
  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, 4^th 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. [Pinyin]
  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 2^nd century BCE
  Suǒwèi “dàzhàngfū” zhě, wèi qí zhì zhī dà yě. [Pinyin]
  "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!” [Pinyin]
  When he saw Qin Shihuang, he sighed: "Oh, that's what a man should be like!"

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (大丈夫):

→ Japanese: 大(だい)丈(じょう)夫(ぶ) (daijōbu); 大(だい)丈(じょう)夫(ふ) (daijōfu)
→ Korean: 대장부(大丈夫) (daejangbu)
→ Vietnamese: đại trượng phu (大丈夫)

Etymology 2

Orthographic borrowing from Japanese 大(だい)丈(じょう)夫(ぶ) (daijōbu), from Chinese 大丈夫.

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): dàzhàngfū

(Zhuyin): ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄤˋ ㄈㄨ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: dàzhàngfū
  - Zhuyin: ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄤˋ ㄈㄨ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: dàjhàngfu
  - Wade–Giles: ta⁴-chang⁴-fu¹
  - Yale: dà-jàng-fū
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: dahjanqfu
  - Palladius: дачжанфу (dačžanfu)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹ fu⁵⁵/

Adjective

大丈夫

(Internet slang, ACG) all right; okay
這樣大丈夫？／这样大丈夫？ ― Zhèyàng dàzhàngfū? ― Is this okay?

Japanese

FWOTD – 6 January 2023

Kanji in this term
大	丈	夫
だい Grade: 1	じょう Grade: S	ぶ Grade: 4
goon

Alternative forms

(informal) だいじょぶ (daijobu)

Etymology

From Chinese 大丈夫, equivalent to 大(だい) (dai-) + 丈(じょう)夫(ぶ) (jōbu).

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) だいじょーぶ [dàíjóꜜòbù] (Nakadaka – [3])^[1]^[2]
IPA^(key): [da̠iʑo̞ːbɯ̟]

Noun

大(だい)丈(じょう)夫(ぶ) or 大丈夫(だいじょうふ) • (daijōbu or daijōfu) ^{←だいぢやうぶ (daidyaubu) or だいぢやうふ (daidyaufu)^?}

(archaic) a man of class; a great man

Adjective

大(だい)丈(じょう)夫(ぶ) • (daijōbu) ^{←だいぢやうぶ (daidyaubu)^?}-na (adnominal 大(だい)丈(じょう)夫(ぶ)な (daijōbu na), adverbial 大(だい)丈(じょう)夫(ぶ)に (daijōbu ni))

(of a person) all right; okay; in good health; uninjured
Synonyms: 平気 (heiki), 無事 (buji)

大(だい)丈(じょう)夫(ぶ)ですか。
Daijōbu desu ka.
Are you all right?
- 1996 February 20 [1988 February 15], Mitsuru Adachi, “なにがなんだか後編 [What’s What: Last Chapter]”, in SHORT(ショート) PROGRAM(プログラム) [Short Program], 25th edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 283:
  
  大(だい)丈(じょう)夫(ぶ)受(う)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(ち)刻(こく)しても大(だい)丈(じょう)夫(ぶ)だ。
Chikoku shite mo daijōbu da.
It's no big deal to be late.
(in response to an offer) no thank you
Synonyms: いい (ii), 結構 (kekkō), 要らない (iranai)

レジ袋(ぶくろ)は大(だい)丈(じょう)夫(ぶ)です。
Rejibukuro wa daijōbu desu.
I am fine without a plastic bag.

Usage notes

In strict terms, declining an offer with 大(だい)丈(じょう)夫(ぶ) (daijōbu) is considered ambiguous. Nonetheless, the usage has become widespread in modern day Japan.

Inflection

Inflection of **大丈夫**
Stem forms
Imperfective (未然形)	大丈夫だろ	だいじょうぶだろ	daijōbu daro
Continuative (連用形)	大丈夫で	だいじょうぶで	daijōbu de
Terminal (終止形)	大丈夫だ	だいじょうぶだ	daijōbu da
Attributive (連体形)	大丈夫な	だいじょうぶな	daijōbu na
Hypothetical (仮定形)	大丈夫なら	だいじょうぶなら	daijōbu nara
Imperative (命令形)	大丈夫であれ	だいじょうぶであれ	daijōbu de are
Key constructions
Informal negative	大丈夫ではない大丈夫じゃない	だいじょうぶではないだいじょうぶじゃない	daijōbu de wa nai daijōbu ja nai
Informal past	大丈夫だった	だいじょうぶだった	daijōbu datta
Informal negative past	大丈夫ではなかった大丈夫じゃなかった	だいじょうぶではなかっただいじょうぶじゃなかった	daijōbu de wa nakatta daijōbu ja nakatta
Formal	大丈夫です	だいじょうぶです	daijōbu desu
Formal negative	大丈夫ではありません大丈夫じゃありません	だいじょうぶではありませんだいじょうぶじゃありません	daijōbu de wa arimasen daijōbu ja arimasen
Formal past	大丈夫でした	だいじょうぶでした	daijōbu deshita
Formal negative past	大丈夫ではありませんでした大丈夫じゃありませんでした	だいじょうぶではありませんでしただいじょうぶじゃありませんでした	daijōbu de wa arimasen deshita daijōbu ja arimasen deshita
Conjunctive	大丈夫で	だいじょうぶで	daijōbu de
Conditional	大丈夫なら（ば）	だいじょうぶなら（ば）	daijōbu nara (ba)
Provisional	大丈夫だったら	だいじょうぶだったら	daijōbu dattara
Volitional	大丈夫だろう	だいじょうぶだろう	daijōbu darō
Adverbial	大丈夫に	だいじょうぶに	daijōbu ni
Degree	大丈夫さ	だいじょうぶさ	daijōbusa

Descendants

→ Hokkien: lăi-jiò͘-bù
→ Mandarin: 大丈夫 (dàzhàngfū)
→ Yonaguni: 大丈夫 (daidubu)

References

Ineko Kondō, Fumi Takano, Mary E. Althaus, et al. (2002), 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

“大丈夫”, in 漢字ぺディア [Kanjipedia]‎^[1] (in Japanese), The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, 2015–2026

Korean

Hanja in this term
大	丈	夫

Noun

大丈夫 • (daejangbu) (hangeul 대장부)

hanja form^? of 대장부 (“real man”)

Vietnamese

chữ Hán Nôm in this term
大	丈	夫

Noun

大丈夫

chữ Hán form of đại trượng phu (“(archaic, Chinese fiction) a virtuous, ambitious, admirable man”)
男(nam)子(tử)漢(hán)大(đại)丈(trượng)夫(phu)
a great man

Yonaguni

Kanji in this term
大	丈	夫
Grade: 1	Grade: S	Grade: 4

Etymology

From Japanese 大(だい)丈(じょう)夫(ぶ) (daijōbu), from Chinese 大丈夫 (dàzhàngfu).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /daidubu/

Adjective

大丈夫(だいどぅぶ) (daidubu)

[DJR-1] Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[NHK-2] 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

[1]

[2]

Chinese

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

Noun

Descendants

See also

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

Adjective

Japanese

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun

Adjective

Usage notes

Inflection

Descendants

References

Korean

Noun

Vietnamese

Noun

Yonaguni

Etymology

Pronunciation

Adjective