太 Stroke Order — How to Write 太
太 is written in 4 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 大, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
太 Radical and Character Components
太 is an ideographic compound. A giant 大 with a normal-sized man 丶 for scale.
Radical: 大 + 1 more stroke
太 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- tài
Meanings of 太 in Chinese
1
tài太
too; excessively; over-
这件衣服太贵了，我买不起。
This piece of clothing is too expensive, I can't afford it.
Indicates an extreme degree; too, very, excessively.
这个蛋糕太甜了，我吃不完
This cake is too sweet, I can't finish it.
Refers to something "high" or "vast", as in "outer space" or "imperial academy".
人类对太空的奥秘充满了好奇。
Humanity is full of curiosity about the mysteries of outer space.
Too, very (indicating a high degree or excess), often used to describe a situation as excessively good or bad.
今天天气太热了。
Today's weather is too hot.
Used as an honorific prefix to denote the highest status or a senior generation, as in 'great-grandfather' or 'venerable lady'.
我的太奶奶今年已经九十高龄了。
My great-grandmother is already ninety years old this year.
Common Words and Phrases with 太
1
to surrender one's power to another as who holds the sword backward
在商业谈判中，如果过早地透露底牌，就如同太阿倒持，让对方掌握了主动权。
In business negotiations, revealing your bottom line too early is akin to handing over the hilt of a powerful weapon to your opponent, allowing them to gain the initiative.
2
Taibai (tài bái) primarily refers to Venus, also known as the Morning or Evening Star. It can also refer to Mount Taibai in Shaanxi province or an acupuncture point.
攀登太白山是一次令人难忘的经历。
Climbing Mount Taibai is an unforgettable experience.
3
more than half
这次比赛的奖品太半都捐给了当地的慈善机构。
The majority of the prizes from this competition were donated to local charities.
4
Tàibǎo is an ancient official title (e.g., Assistant Grand Tutor), and historically also referred to temple curates or respected outlaws. In modern slang, it means a juvenile delinquent or hooligan.
那位乐善好施的武师，因常扶危济困，被当地人称为'太保'。
That benevolent martial artist, often helping those in need, was respectfully called 'Taibao' by the locals.
5
A single grain of millet in a vast granary; an idiom for something extremely tiny or insignificant.
在浩瀚的宇宙中，我们每个人都不过是太仓一粟，渺小而微不足道。
In the vast universe, each of us is merely a grain of millet in a vast granary, tiny and insignificant.
6
An official in ancient China responsible for rituals, music, and ceremonies related to ancestral temples and state sacrifices to gods of land and grain.
太常负责监督宫廷祭祀的礼仪，确保一切合乎祖制。
The Grand Minister of Rites was responsible for overseeing the etiquette of court sacrifices, ensuring that everything conformed to ancestral traditions.
7
Tai Chang Gong (太常公) refers to Xia Chang, an official during the Ming Dynasty's Xuande era, who served as the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He was the paternal grandfather of Gui Youguang's grandmother.
听闻太常公当年画竹颇负盛名，笔墨之间尽显风骨。
It is said that Tai Chang Gong was highly renowned for his bamboo paintings back then, with his brushwork fully displaying a noble and spirited character.
8
Mother of an official or a person of high social status, especially in historical contexts.
这位太夫人慈祥和蔼，深得族人敬爱
This esteemed lady (mother) was kind and gentle, deeply loved and respected by her clan.
9
Grand Tutor, a high-ranking official title, one of the Three Ducal Ministers in ancient China.
年迈的太傅尽心尽力，教导年幼的太子诗书礼仪，期望他能成为明君。
The elderly Grand Tutor wholeheartedly devoted himself to teaching the young Crown Prince literature and etiquette, hoping he would become a wise ruler.
10
Great-grandfather, grandfather, or a respectful term for an elder.
村里的孩子们都喜欢听太公讲古老的故事。
The children in the village all love to listen to Taigong tell ancient stories.
11
remote antiquity; the most ancient times
在太古时代，地球上的生物形态远比现在简单。
In the primeval age, life forms on Earth were much simpler than they are now.
12
Empress dowager; the mother of an emperor.
小宫女为太后奉上了一杯香茶。
The young palace maid offered a cup of fragrant tea to the Empress Dowager.
13
Taihu Lake, or Lake Tai, is China's third-largest freshwater lake, located in southern Jiangsu province, covering an area of 2,250 square kilometers. It is a famous tourist area.
太湖周边的园林和古镇吸引了众多游客前来观光
The gardens and ancient towns surrounding Taihu Lake attract numerous visitors.
14
Taijiquan (or Tai Chi) is a traditional Chinese martial art known for its slow, flowing movements, practiced for self-defense, health, and meditation.
每天清晨，许多人在公园里练习太极拳，以保持身心健康
Every morning, many people practice Taijiquan in the park to maintain physical and mental health.
15
An imperial eunuch or court eunuch, often serving in the imperial palace.
在古代，太监常常负责宫殿中的日常管理和琐碎事务。
In ancient times, eunuchs were often responsible for the daily management and trivial tasks within the palace.
16
The region beyond Earth's atmosphere; outer space.
我们梦想着有朝一日能去太空旅行。
We dream of traveling to space one day.
More words with 太
- huáng皇tài太hòu后Empress Dowager
- yí姨tài太tai太concubine
- yóu犹tài太jiào教Judaism
- yóu犹tài太rén人Jew
- tài太duō多Too much, Too many
- tài太yáng阳sun, sunshine
- xiàn县tài太yé爷county magistrate
- bú不tài太not very, not too
- tài太dà大Too big, Oversized
- tài太jiǔ久Too long, For too long
- tài太kuài快too fast, too soon
- tài太zǐ子Crown Prince, heir apparent
- gài盖shì世tài太bǎo保Gestapo
- tài太chà差Too bad, Terrible
- tài太láo牢Tai Lao, grand sacrifice
- tài太màn慢too slow, so slow
- tài太píng平peace, peaceful
- tài太shēn深too deep, too profound
- tài太shǒu守Prefect, Governor
- tài太wǎn晚Too late
Idioms with 太
- tài太píng平shèng盛shì世a golden age of peace and prosperity
- tài太píng平wú无shì事peaceful and quiet
- ā阿dǒu斗tài太zǐ子an incompetent good-for-nothing person
- bī逼rén人tài太shèn甚to push someone too far
- fěn粉shì饰tài太píng平gloss over difficulties and present false peace
- lí离tí题tài太yuǎn远digress too far from the topic
- qī欺rén人tài太shèn甚to go too far in bullying
- tiān天xià下tài太píng平peace and tranquility everywhere
- yī一qián钱tài太shǒu守An incorruptible official who serves selflessly
- tài太ē阿zhī之bǐng柄ultimate power and control
- tài太píng平wú无xiàng象false peace has no fixed signs
- tài太shān山běi北dòu斗a widely admired leading figure
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Open the tool →Questions about 太
What does 太 mean in Chinese?
太 (tài) means “too” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 太?
太 is pronounced tài in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 太 have?
太 has 4 strokes.
How do you write 太?
太 is written in 4 strokes, starting from the radical 大. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 太?
The radical of 太 is 大, and 太 is an ideographic compound.