大道理

dàdàolǐ

noun #20,634

Meanings

1 grand principle
2 major moral truth
3 high-sounding sermon
4 lecture (reproving speech)

Characters

way / principle

Examples

别跟我讲大道理，我知道怎么做。

Bié gēn wǒ jiǎng dàdàolǐ, wǒ zhīdào zěnme zuò.

Don't lecture me with grand principles — I know what to do.

他总喜欢说一堆大道理。

Tā zǒng xǐhuān shuō yī duī dàdàolǐ.

He always likes to spout a bunch of moralizing talk.

Tips

usage

大道理 often carries a mildly dismissive tone — the speaker acknowledges the principle exists but finds it unhelpfully abstract or preachy. Compare 道理 (principle, reason) which is neutral.

Stroke Order

大 dà

道 dào

理 lǐ