博大精深

bódàjīngshēn

idiom #58,819

Meanings

1 broad and profound (idiom)
2 wide-ranging and deep (of knowledge, culture, or thought)

Characters

broad; extensive

refined; essence

Examples

中华文化博大精深，源远流长。

Zhōnghuá wénhuà bódàjīngshēn, yuányuǎnliúcháng.

Chinese culture is broad, profound, and has a long history.

中医理论博大精深，不是一朝一夕能学懂的。

Zhōngyī lǐlùn bódàjīngshēn, bùshì yīzhāoyīxī néng xuédǒng de.

Traditional Chinese medicine is profound — you can't master it overnight.

他的学识博大精深，令人敬佩。

Tā de xuéshí bódàjīngshēn, lìng rén jìngpèi.

His learning is vast and deep — admirable.

Tips

register

Formal, reverent register. Classic collocation with 文化, 思想, 学问 — rare to hear in casual conversation. Often used patriotically about Chinese civilization.

memory

Two pairs: 博大 (broad + big = wide-ranging) and 精深 (refined + deep = profound). Horizontal reach × vertical depth.

Stroke Order

博 bó

大 dà

精 jīng

深 shēn