| 四大发明 |
sì dà fā míng |
the Four Great Inventions (papermaking, printing, the compass, and gunpowder, traditionally regarded as the four major inventions of ancient China) |
| 四 |
sì |
four / 4 |
| 四大 |
sì dà |
the four elements: earth, water, fire, and wind (Buddhism) / the four freedoms: speaking out freely, airing views fully, holding great debates, and writing big-character posters, 大鸣大放, 大辩论, 大字报 (PRC) |
| 大 |
dà |
big; large; great / older (than another person) / eldest (as in 大姐) / greatly; freely; fully / (dialect) father / (dialect) uncle (father's brother) |
| 大 |
dài |
see 大夫 |
| 大发 |
Dà fā |
Daihatsu, Japanese car company |
| 发 |
fā |
to send out / to show (one's feeling) / to issue / to develop / to make a bundle of money / classifier for gunshots (rounds) |
| 发 |
fà |
hair / Taiwan pr. [fa3] |
| 发明 |
fā míng |
to invent / an invention / CL:个 |
| 明 |
Míng |
Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) / surname Ming / Ming (c. 2000 BC), fourth of the legendary Flame Emperors, 炎帝 descended from Shennong 神农 Farmer God |
| 明 |
míng |
bright / opposite: dark 暗 / (of meaning) clear / to understand / next / public or open / wise / generic term for a sacrifice to the gods |