大腕

dàwàn

noun #17,739

Meanings

Literally 'big wrist' - slang for an important person.

这部电影请了好几个大腕来演。

Zhè bù diànyǐng qǐng le hǎojǐ gè dàwàn lái yǎn.

This movie hired quite a few big names to act in it.

他在商界是个大腕。

Tā zài shāngjiè shì gè dàwàn.

He's a heavyweight in the business world.

大腕 is colloquial and often used in entertainment or business circles. More formal alternatives include 名人 or 大人物.

memory

腕 means 'wrist' - imagine someone with a big, powerful wrist shaking hands with everyone important. Big wrist = big shot.

大 dà

腕 wàn