太

See also: 大 and 犬

太	U+592A, 太 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-592A

← 天
[U+5929]

CJK Unified Ideographs

夫 →
[U+592B]

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order

Han character

太 (Kangxi radical 37, 大+1, 4 strokes, cangjie input 大戈 (KI), four-corner 4003₀, composition ⿵大丶)

Derived characters

駄, 态, 盇, 㑀, 㣖, 呔, 𡛕, 汰, 忲, 𢪯, 迏, 肽, 𧘹, 鈦(钛), 舦, 粏, 軚, 酞, 𡳁

Descendants

た

References

KangXi: page 248, character 10

Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 5834

Dae Jaweon: page 505, character 1

Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 524, character 1

Unihan data for U+592A

Chinese

Glyph origin

Characters in the same phonetic series (大) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
馱	daːl, daːds
大	daːds, daːds
忕	tʰaːds, daːds, *djads
太	*tʰaːds
汰	*tʰaːds
汏	daːds, tʰaːd
軑	daːds, deːds
釱	daːds, deːds
达	*tʰeːds
杕	*deːds

Phono-semantic compound (形聲, OC *tʰaːds) : phonetic 大 (OC *daːds, *daːds, “big; great”) + semantic 丶 – excessive.

Etymology 1

simp. and trad.		太
alternative forms		冭

A superlative derivative of 大 (OC *daːds, *daːds, “big”) – be too great, very great, excessive.

Pronunciation 1

Mandarin
(Standard)
(Pinyin): tài (tai⁴)
(Zhuyin): ㄊㄞˋ
(Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): тэ (te, II)
Cantonese
(Guangzhou, Jyutping): taai³
(Taishan, Wiktionary): hai¹
Gan (Wiktionary): tai³
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): thai
(Meixian, Guangdong): tai⁴
Jin (Wiktionary): tai³
Min Bei (KCR): tuo̿i
Min Dong (BUC): tái
Min Nan
(Hokkien, POJ): thài
(Teochew, Peng'im): tai³
Wu (Wiktionary): tha (T2)
Xiang (Wiktionary): tai⁴

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: tài
  - Zhuyin: ㄊㄞˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: tài
  - Wade–Giles: tʻai⁴
  - Yale: tài
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tay
  - Palladius: тай (taj)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰaɪ̯⁵¹/
- (Dungan)
  - Cyrillic and Wiktionary: тэ (te, II)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰɛ⁵¹/
  (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: taai³
  - Yale: taai
  - Cantonese Pinyin: taai³
  - Guangdong Romanization: tai³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰaːi̯³³/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: hai¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /hai³³/
Gan
- (Nanchang)
  - Wiktionary: tai³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰai²¹³/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: thai
  - Hakka Romanization System: tai
  - Hagfa Pinyim: tai⁴
  - Sinological IPA: /tʰai̯⁵⁵/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: tai⁴
  - Sinological IPA: /tʰaɪ⁵³/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary: tai³
  - Sinological IPA (old-style): /tʰxai⁴⁵/
Min Bei
- (Jian'ou)
  - Kienning Colloquial Romanized: tuo̿i
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰuɛ³³/
Min Dong
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: tái
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰɑi²¹³/
Min Nan
- (Hokkien)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: thài
  - Tâi-lô: thài
  - Phofsit Daibuun: taix
  - IPA (Xiamen): /tʰai²¹/
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /tʰai⁴¹/
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /tʰai²¹/
  - IPA (Taipei): /tʰai¹¹/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /tʰai²¹/
- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: tai³
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: thài
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰai²¹³/
Wu
- (Shanghainese)
  - Wiktionary: tha (T2)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰa̱³⁴/
Xiang
- (Changsha)
  - Wiktionary: tai⁴
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰai⁴⁵/

Middle Chinese: /tʰɑi^H/

Rime
Character	太
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	透 (6)
Final (韻)	泰 (25)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	I
Fanqie	他蓋切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/tʰɑi^H/
Pan Wuyun	/tʰɑi^H/
Shao Rongfen	/tʰɑi^H/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/tʰaj^H/
Li Rong	/tʰɑi^H/
Wang Li	/tʰɑi^H/
Bernard Karlgren	/tʰɑi^H/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	tài
Expected Cantonese Reflex	taai³

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*l̥ˤa[t]-s/
(Zhengzhang): /*tʰaːds/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	太
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	tài
Middle Chinese	‹ thaj^H ›
Old Chinese	/*l̥ˁa[t]-s/
English	great
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	太
Reading #	1/1
No.	1937
Phonetic component	大
Rime group	祭
Rime subdivision	1
Corresponding MC rime	泰
Old Chinese	/*tʰaːds/

Definitions

太

too; so (modifying adjectives; often used with 了 (le) at the end of the sentence for emphasis)
太熱了！／太热了！ ― Tài rè le! ― It's so hot!
別吃太多派。／别吃太多派。 ― Bié chī tài duō pài. ― Don't eat too much pie.
- 他的褲子太短，外套和背心又太肥大。 [MSC, trad.]
  他的裤子太短，外套和背心又太肥大。 [MSC, simp.]
  Tā de kùzi tài duǎn, wàitào hé bèixīn yòu tài féidà. [Pinyin]
  His trousers were too short and his coat and vest too loose.
(usually in negative sentences) very; quite
他不太舒服。 [Taiwanese Mandarin] ― Tā bù tài shūfú. [Pinyin] ― He's not very well.
most; utmost
highest; greatest
senior; noble
Short for 太湖 (Tàihú, “Lake Tai, a lake in Southern Jiangsu, China”).
Short for 太平洋 (Tàipíngyáng, “Pacific Ocean”).

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 太 (“too; excessively”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		太, 過於
Mandarin	Beijing	太, 忒
	Taiwan	太
	Tianjin	太, 忒
	Jinan	太, 忒
	Wanrong	太
	Xi'an	太
	Yinchuan	太
	Wuhan	太, 忒
	Chengdu	太
	Guiyang	太
	Guilin	太
	Xuzhou	忒
	Yangzhou	太
	Hefei	太
	Malaysia	太
	Singapore	太
	Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan)	太
Cantonese	Guangzhou	太, 得滯 >, 過頭 >
	Hong Kong	太, 太過, 得滯 >, 過頭 >, 過龍 >
	Taishan	得滯 >
	Dongguan	得滯 >
	Yangjiang	得滯 >
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	太
	Singapore (Guangfu)	太
Gan	Nanchang	太
	Lichuan	太
	Pingxiang	太
Hakka	Meixian	忒
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	太, 過頭 >
	Wuhua (Huacheng)	忒
	Heyuan (Bendihua)	太
	Wengyuan	太
	Liannan	太
	Jiexi	忒
	Zhao'an (Xiuzhuan)	太, 忒
	Changting	忒
	Wuping	忒
	Wuping (Yanqian)	忒
	Liancheng	忒
	Ninghua	忒
	Yudu	太
	Ningdu	太, 忒
	Tonggu (Sandu)	忒
	Ganzhou (Panlong)	太
	Dayu	太
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	忒
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	忒
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	忒
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	忒
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	忒
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	忒
	Hong Kong	太, 過頭 >
	Yangxi (Tangkou)	太
	Yangchun (Sanjia)	太
	Xinyi (Sihe)	太
	Xinyi (Qianpai)	太
	Gaozhou (Xindong)	太
	Maoming (Shalang, Dianbai)	太
	Huazhou (Xin'an)	忒
	Lianjiang (Shijiao)	忒
	Lianjiang (Qingping)	太
	Mengshan (Xihe)	太
	Luchuan	太
	Senai (Huiyang)	過頭 >
	Kuching (Hepo)	過頭
Huizhou	Jixi	太
Jin	Taiyuan	太
Min Bei	Jian'ou	忒
	Jian'ou (Dikou)	忒
	Songxi	忒
	Zhenghe	忒
	Zhenghe (Zhenqian)	忒
	Jianyang	忒
	Wuyishan	忒
	Pucheng (Shibei)	忒
Min Dong	Fuzhou	過, 恰
	Changle	恰
	Lianjiang	恰
	Fuqing	恰
	Pingtan	恰
	Yongtai	恰
	Minqing	恰
	Gutian	恰
	Pingnan	恰
	Luoyuan	恰
	Fu'an	恰
	Ningde	恰
	Xiapu	恰
	Zherong	恰
	Shouning	恰
	Zhouning	恰
	Fuding	恰
Min Nan	Xiamen	傷, 傷過
	Xiamen (Tong'an)	傷
	Quanzhou	傷, 傷過
	Jinjiang	傷, 太
	Nan'an	傷
	Shishi	傷
	Hui'an	傷
	Anxi	傷
	Yongchun	傷
	Dehua	傷
	Zhangzhou	傷, 傷過
	Zhangzhou (Longhai)	傷
	Zhangzhou (Changtai)	傷
	Hua'an	傷
	Nanjing	傷
	Pinghe	傷
	Zhangpu	傷
	Yunxiao	傷
	Zhao'an	傷
	Dongshan	傷
	Taipei	傷
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	傷
	Kaohsiung	傷
	Yilan	傷
	Changhua (Lukang)	傷
	Taichung	傷
	Tainan	傷
	Hsinchu	傷
	Kinmen	傷
	Penghu (Magong)	傷
	Penang (Hokkien)	傷, 太
	Singapore (Hokkien)	傷, 傷過, 過, 佮
	Manila (Hokkien)	傷, 傷過
	Longyan	蓋
	Zhangping	傷
	Chaozhou	佮
	Shantou	佮, 過
	Jieyang	佮, 過
	Bangkok (Teochew)	佮
	Johor Bahru (Teochew)	佮
	Singapore (Teochew)	佮, 過
Puxian Min	Putian	傷
Puxian Min	Xianyou	傷
Min Zhong	Yong'an	太
	Sanyuan	忒
	Shaxian	太
Wu	Shanghai	忒, 過於, 忒煞, 忒以 dated
	Shanghai (Chongming)	忒
	Suzhou	忒
	Hangzhou	忒
	Ningbo	忒
	Wenzhou	忒
	Jinhua	太, 忒
Xiang	Changsha	太
Xiang	Shuangfeng	太, 忒
Note	> - after adjective or adverb

Pronunciation 2

Mandarin
(Pinyin): tài, tai (tai⁴, tai⁵)
(Zhuyin): ㄊㄞˋ, ˙ㄊㄞ
Cantonese (Jyutping): taai^3-2

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: tài
  - Zhuyin: ㄊㄞˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: tài
  - Wade–Giles: tʻai⁴
  - Yale: tài
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tay
  - Palladius: тай (taj)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰaɪ̯⁵¹/
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: tai
  - Zhuyin: ˙ㄊㄞ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: tåi
  - Wade–Giles: tʻai⁵
  - Yale: tai
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: .tai
  - Palladius: тай (taj)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰaɪ̯/

Note:

tài - when used as 1-character title;
tai - when used after 太.

Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: taai^3-2
  - Yale: táai
  - Cantonese Pinyin: taai^3-2
  - Guangdong Romanization: tai^3-2
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰaːi̯³³⁻³⁵/

Note: taai3-2 - “Mrs.” when used on its own.

Definitions

太

Short for 太太 (tàitai, “wife; Miss; Mrs”).

太太 ― tàitai ― wife
李太 [Cantonese] ― lei⁵ taai^3-2 [Jyutping] ― Mrs. Li
陳太／陈太 [Cantonese] ― can⁴ taai^3-2 [Jyutping] ― Mrs. Chen

Pronunciation 3

Mandarin
(Pinyin): tā (ta¹)
(Zhuyin): ㄊㄚ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: tā
  - Zhuyin: ㄊㄚ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: ta
  - Wade–Giles: tʻa¹
  - Yale: tā
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: ta
  - Palladius: та (ta)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰä⁵⁵/

Definitions

太

^† Only used in 太末.

Compounds

Derived terms from 太

以太 (yǐtài)
仰天太息
佘太君
元太宗
元太祖
十三太保
印太 (Yìn-Tài)
名重太山
唐太宗
外太空 (wàitàikōng)
天下太平 (tiānxiàtàipíng)
太一 (tàiyī)
太上 (tàishàng)
太上忘情
太上皇 (tàishànghuáng)
太上老君 (Tàishàng Lǎojūn)
太中大夫 (tàizhōng dàfū)
太主
太乙
太保 (tàibǎo)
太傅 (tàifù)
太元 (Tàiyuán)
太公 (tàigōng)
太公兵法
太公家教
太公望
太公鼓刀
太初
太半
太卜
太原 (Tàiyuán)
太原市
太叔 (Tàishū)
太古 (tàigǔ)
太古代 (Tàigǔdài)
太古界
太史 (tàishǐ)
太史令 (tàishǐ lìng)
太史公 (Tàishǐgōng)
太君 (tàijūn)
太和 (Tàihé)
太和殿 (Tàihédiàn)
太太 (tàitai)
太夫人
太夫子
太妃糖 (tàifēitáng)
太妹 (tàimèi)
太始
太婆 (tàipó)
太子 (tàizǐ)
太子城 (Tàizǐchéng)
太子太保
太子太傅
太子少保
太子港 (Tàizǐgǎng)
太子舍人
太守 (tàishǒu)
太安
太宗 (Tàizōng)
太宰
太容
太尉 (tàiwèi)
太尊
太山
太帝 (Tàidì)
太常 (tàicháng)
太常博士
太常寺 (Tàichángsì)
太平 (tàipíng)
太平之治
太平天子
太平官
太平年
太平店 (Tàipíngdiàn)
太平日子
太平梯 (tàipíngtī)
太平水桶
太平水缸
太平洋 (Tàipíngyáng)
太平溪 (Tàipíngxī)
太平盛世
太平真君
太平花
太平道 (Tàipíngdào)
太平鼓
太座
太康 (Tàikāng)
太延
太建
太弟
太微
太息 (tàixī)
太憨生
太昊
太昌
太武山
太母
太液 (Tàiyè)
太液池 (Tàiyèchí)
太清
太湖 (Tàihú)
太湖港 (Tàihúgǎng)
太湖石
太熙
太牢 (tàiláo)
太猛
太玄 (tàixuán)
太王
太甚 (tàishèn)
太甲 (Tài Jiǎ)
太瘦生
太白 (Tàibái)
太白星 (Tàibáixīng)
太白粉 (tàibáifěn)
太白酒星

太白金星
太皞
太真 (Tàizhēn)
太石 (Tàishí)
太祖 (Tàizǔ)
太祝
太空 (tàikōng)
太空人 (tàikōngrén)
太空城
太空梭 (tàikōngsuō)
太空武器
太空漫步
太空病
太空站 (tàikōngzhàn)
太空船 (tàikōngchuán)
太空衣
太空被
太空食物
太簇
太素
太羹
太翁
太老先生
太行山 (Tàiháng Shān)
太谷
太重
太阿 (tài'ē)
太阿之柄
太阿倒持 (Tài'ē dàochí)
太阿在握
姑太太
姜太公
姨太
姨太太 (yítàitai)
宋太宗
宋太祖
打供太保
打太平拳
明太祖
昭明太子
李太白
李提摩太
桃太郎 (Táotàiláng)
欺人太甚 (qīréntàishèn)
清太坪 (Qīngtàipíng)
清太祖
燕太子丹
皇太子 (huángtàizǐ)
相煎太急
老太
老太太 (lǎotàitai)
老太婆 (lǎotàipó)
舅太太
航太 (hángtài)
蒙太奇 (méngtàiqí)
迦太基 (Jiātàijī)
逼人太甚
酒太公
金太宗
金太祖
太后 (tàihòu)
太皇太后 (tài huáng tàihòu)
太麻里 (Tàimálǐ)
慈安太后
慈禧太后 (Cíxǐ Tàihòu)
梁太祖
皇太后 (huángtàihòu)
西太后
一錢太守／一钱太守 (yī qián tàishǒu)
三保太監／三保太监
二太爺／二太爷
亞太／亚太 (Yà-Tài)
亞太地區／亚太地区
出太陽／出太阳
分過太平／分过太平
吃太平飯／吃太平饭
國太／国太
太丘道廣／太丘道广
太乙數／太乙数
太乙神針／太乙神针
太倉／太仓 (Tàicāng)
太倉一粟／太仓一粟
太倉稊米／太仓稊米
太僕／太仆 (tàipú)
太儀／太仪
太公釣魚／太公钓鱼
太初曆／太初历
太古傳宗／太古传宗
太嗇／太啬
太子太師／太子太师
太子少師／太子少师
太子洗馬／太子洗马
太子黨／太子党 (Tàizǐdǎng)
太孫／太孙
太學／太学 (tàixué)
太學生／太学生 (tàixuéshēng)
太寧／太宁
太寶湖／太宝湖 (Tàibǎohú)
太山鴻毛／太山鸿毛
太師／太师 (tàishī)
太師交椅／太师交椅
太師椅／太师椅 (tàishīyǐ)
太師母／太师母
太平天國／太平天国 (Tàipíng Tiānguó)
太平時世／太平时世
太平時節／太平时节
太平歌詞／太平歌词
太平氣象／太平气象
太平無事／太平无事
太平經／太平经 (Tàipíngjīng)
太平興國／太平兴国 (Tàipíng Xīngguó)
太平話／太平话
太平車／太平车
太平軍／太平军
太平門／太平门 (tàipíngmén)

太平間／太平间 (tàipíngjiān)
太平龍頭／太平龙头
太康體／太康体
太廟／太庙 (tàimiào)
太極／太极 (tàijí)
太極劍／太极剑
太極圖／太极图 (tàijítú)
太極圖說／太极图说
太極拳／太极拳 (tàijíquán)
太歲／太岁 (Tàisuì)
太歲年名／太岁年名
太沖／太冲
太爺／太爷 (tàiyé)
太玄經／太玄经 (Tàixuánjīng)
太監／太监 (tàijiàn)
太空傳播／太空传播
太空劇場／太空剧场
太空塵／太空尘
太空探險／太空探险
太空條約／太空条约
太空槍／太空枪
太空科學／太空科学 (tàikōng kēxué)
太空總署／太空总署
太空艙／太空舱
太空藝術／太空艺术
太空裝／太空装
太空軌道／太空轨道
太空通訊／太空通讯
太空醫學／太空医学
太老師／太老师
太興／太兴
太華山／太华山
太虛／太虚
太虛幻境／太虚幻境
太謙／太谦
太谷燈／太谷灯
太輔／太辅
太過／太过 (tàiguò)
太醫／太医 (tàiyī)
太醫院／太医院
太陰／太阴 (tàiyīn)
太陰之象／太阴之象
太陰星／太阴星
太陰曆／太阴历
太陰月／太阴月 (tàiyīnyuè)
太陰潮／太阴潮
太陰病／太阴病
太陽／太阳 (tàiyáng)
太陽光譜／太阳光谱
太陽地／太阳地 (tàiyángdì)
太陽島／太阳岛 (Tàiyángdǎo)
太陽年／太阳年
太陽旗／太阳旗 (tàiyángqí)
太陽日／太阳日 (tàiyángrì)
太陽時／太阳时
太陽曆／太阳历
太陽河／太阳河 (Tàiyánghé)
太陽燈／太阳灯 (tàiyángdēng)
太陽爐／太阳炉
太陽病／太阳病
太陽眼鏡／太阳眼镜 (tàiyáng yǎnjìng)
太陽神／太阳神 (tàiyángshén)
太陽穴／太阳穴 (tàiyángxué)
太陽糕／太阳糕 (tàiyánggāo)
太陽系／太阳系 (Tàiyángxì)
太陽能／太阳能 (tàiyángnéng)
太陽能房／太阳能房
太陽膏／太阳膏
太陽自轉／太阳自转
太陽輻射／太阳辐射
太陽閃焰／太阳闪焰
太陽電池／太阳电池 (tàiyáng diànchí)
太陽電波／太阳电波
太陽風／太阳风 (tàiyángfēng)
太陽餅／太阳饼 (tàiyángbǐng)
太陽鳥／太阳鸟
太陽麻／太阳麻
太陽黑子／太阳黑子
太階／太阶
太魯閣／太鲁阁 (Tàilǔgé)
太魯閣族／太鲁阁族 (tàilǔgézú)
安太歲／安太岁
宮中太監／宫中太监
打太極／打太极 (dǎ tàijí)
打太極拳／打太极拳 (dǎ tàijíquán)
提摩太書／提摩太书
撞太歲／撞太岁
撞鐘太歲／撞钟太岁
曠然太平／旷然太平
楊太真／杨太真
毛太紙／毛太纸
活太歲／活太岁
渥太華／渥太华 (Wòtàihuá)
猶太／犹太 (Yóutài)
猶太人／犹太人 (yóutàirén)
猶太教／犹太教 (yóutàijiào)
皇太極／皇太极 (Huángtàijí)
真太陽日／真太阳日
神遊太虛／神游太虚
竇太后／窦太后
章懷太子／章怀太子
粉飾太平／粉饰太平 (fěnshìtàipíng)
縣太爺／县太爷 (xiàntàiyé)
老太爺／老太爷 (lǎotàiyé)
航太工業／航太工业
花花太歲／花花太岁
蓋世太保／盖世太保 (Gàishìtàibǎo)
蕭太后／萧太后
親太太／亲太太
遼太宗／辽太宗
遼太祖／辽太祖
阿爾斯太／阿尔斯太
馬太／马太 (Mǎtài)
馬太福音／马太福音 (Mǎtài Fúyīn)
黃堂太守／黄堂太守

Etymology 2

See Korean 太 (太).

Definitions

太

(Korean Classical Chinese) soybean
Synonym: 大豆 (dàdòu)

Etymology 3

For pronunciation and definitions of 太 – see 泰 (“big; large; great; extensive; etc.”). (This character, 太, is the second-round simplified form of 泰.)
Notes: Simplified Chinese is mainly used in Mainland China, Malaysia and Singapore. Traditional Chinese is mainly used in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Japanese

Kanji

太

(grade 2 “Kyōiku” kanji)

(adjective): fat

Readings

Go-on: たい (tai, Jōyō)
Kan-on: たい (tai, Jōyō)
Kan’yō-on: た (ta, Jōyō); だ (da); だい (dai)
Kun: ふと (futo); ふとい (futoi, 太い, Jōyō); ふとむ (futomu, 太む); ふとやか (futoyaka, 太やか); ふとる (futoru, 太る, Jōyō)
Nanori: おお (ō); たか (taka); ひろ (hiro); ふとし (futoshi)

Compounds

心太(ところてん) (tokoroten): Gelidium jelly; prostate orgasm

Etymology 1

From Old Japanese.

Pronunciation

Kun’yomi

(Tokyo) ふと [fùtó] (Heiban – [0])[1]
IPA^(key): [ɸɯ̟̊ᵝto̞]

Noun

太(ふと) • (futo)

fatness
a fat person, a fatty
fat-necked shamisen
thick thread

Synonyms

(fat person): でぶ (debu)
(shamisen): 太棹(ふとざお) (futozao)
(thread): 太糸(ふといと) (futoito)

Derived terms

樺太(からふと) (Karafuto), 唐太(からふと) (Karafuto): Sakhalin (use of 太 here is ateji)

Prefix

太(ふと) • (futo-)

added to words describing gods or the emperor or other exalted subjects to denote greatness or excellence
- c. 759, Man'yōshū (book 17, poem 4031); text here
  奈加等美乃敷刀能里⟨等其⟩等伊比波良倍安⟨賀⟩布伊能知毛多我多米尓奈礼
  中臣の太祝詞言言ひ祓へ贖ふ命も誰がために汝れ
  なかとみのふとのりとごといひはらへあかふいのちもたがためになれ
  Nakatomi no / futonoritogoto / iiharae / akau inochi mo / ta ga tame ni nare
  Reciting the Nakatomi's excellent ritual offering, whose [long] life was prayed for? Yours.
added to regular nouns to denote fatness or thickness
太(ふと)腿(もも)、太(ふと)箸(ばし)
futo-momo, futo-bashi
the thigh (the thick part of the leg), fat chopsticks (used at New Years)

Derived terms

太(ふと)織(おり) (futoori): alternate for 太絹
太(ふと)絹(ぎぬ) (futoginu): a type of cloth, woven using raw silk
太(ふと)巻(ま)き (futomaki), 太(ふと)巻(まき) (futomaki): a fat roll, often of sushi
太(ふと)腿(もも) (futomomo): the thigh
太(ふと)箸(ばし) (futobashi): special fat chopsticks used at New Years

Etymology 2

The Old Japanese 終止形 (shūshikei, “terminal (sentence-final) form”) of adjective 太い (futoi, “fat, thick, big”).[2]

Pronunciation

Kun’yomi

IPA^(key): [ɸɯ̟̊ᵝto̞ɕi]

Proper noun

太(ふとし) • (Futoshi)

a male given name

Etymology 3

Derived from the root word 大 (ō, “great, big”).

Pronunciation

Kun’yomi

IPA^(key): [o̞ː]

Proper noun

太(おお) • (Ō) ^{←おほ (ofo)^?}

a surname

Etymology 4

From Middle Chinese 太 (thajH). Compare modern Mandarin 太 (tài).

Pronunciation

On’yomi

IPA^(key): [ta̠i]

Prefix

太(たい) • (tai-)

big, fat, great

Usage notes

Only found in compounds.

Derived terms

太(たい)陰(いん) (taiin): the moon
太(たい)陰(いん)暦(れき) (taiinreki): the lunar calendar
太(たい)陽(よう) (taiyō): the sun
太(たい)虚(きょ) (taikyo): the sky
太(たい)極(きょく)拳(けん) (taikyokuken): tai chi, taijiquan
太(たい)空(くう) (taikū): the sky
太(たい)原(げん) (Taigen): the Chinese city of Taiyuan
太(たい)古(こ) (taiko): ancient times
太(たい)鼓(こ) (taiko): a traditional fat Japanese drum
太(たい)鼓(こ)橋(ばし) (taikobashi): an arched bridge
太(たい)鼓(こ)腹(ばら) (taikobara): a paunch
太(たい)子(し) (taishi): the crown prince

Etymology 5

From a colloquial form of 太 in Middle Chinese. Compare the similar corruption in Mandarin 大 (dà).

Pronunciation

Kan’yōyomi

IPA^(key): [ta̠]

Prefix

太(た) • (ta-)

big, fat, great

Usage notes

Only found in compounds.

Derived terms

太刀(たち) (tachi): a Japanese longsword
太郎(たろう) (Tarō): a male given name

References

1998, NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 (NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: NHK, →ISBN
1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan

Korean

Wikisource

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [tʰɛ] ~ [tʰe̞]
Phonetic hangul: [태/테]

Etymology 1

From Middle Chinese 太 (MC tʰɑi^H). The "pollock" sense is supposedly from the surname, after a fisherman.

Hanja

太 (eumhun 클 태 (keul tae))

Hanja form^? of 태 (“large; great; big; excessive”). [affix]
Hanja form^? of 태. [surname]
Hanja form^? of 태 (“pollock”). [affix]

Compounds

태고 (太古, taego)
태고 (太高, taego)
태극 (太極, taegeuk)
태극기 (太極旗, taegeukgi)
태반 (太半, taeban)
태백 (太白, taebaek)
태백성 (太白星, taebaekseong)
태부족 (太不足, taebujok)
태상왕 (太上王, taesang'wang)
태상황 (太上皇, taesanghwang)
태수 (太守, taesu)
태양 (太陽, taeyang)
태양계 (太陽系, taeyanggye)
태양력 (太陽曆, taeyangnyeok)
태왕 (太王, taewang)
태음 (太陰, taeeum)
태음력 (太陰曆, taeeumnyeok)
태음태양력 (太陰太陽曆, taeeumtaeyangnyeok)
태일 (太一, taeil)
태자 (太子, taeja)
태자비 (太子妃, taejabi)
태조 (太祖, taejo)
태종 (太宗, taejong)
태초 (太初, taecho)
태평 (太平, taepyeong)
태평성대 (太平聖代, taepyeongseongdae)
태평소 (太平簫, taepyeongso)
태평양 (太平洋, taepyeong'yang)
태평연월 (太平煙月, taepyeong'yeonwol)
태평천국 (太平天國, taepyeongcheon'guk)
태학 (太學, taehak)
태허 (太虛, taeheo)
태후 (太后, taehu)
태황태후 (太皇太后, taehwangtaehu)
동태 (凍太, dongtae)
만사태평 (萬事太平, mansataepyeong)
명태 (明太, myeongtae)
삼태탕 (三太湯, samtaetang)
이태리 (伊太利, itaeri)
천하태평 (天下太平, cheonhataepyeong)
황태자 (皇太子, hwangtaeja)
황태후 (皇太后, hwangtaehu)

Etymology 2

A Korean graphic abbreviation of Chinese 大豆 (“soybean”, literally “big bean”), perhaps attested as early as the eighth century.

Presumably, it was originally used as a logogram for the native Korean word 코ᇰ (Yale: khwòng, “soybean”), without a Sino-Korean reading of its own. At some point—perhaps after the logogramic representation of native Korean words declined following the invention of the Hangul alphabet in the 1400s—it became conflated with the visually identical character 太 (太, “large; great”) and now shares its Sino-Korean reading, 태 (tae).

Hanja

太 (eumhun 콩 태 (kong tae))

Hanja form^? of 태 (“soybean”). [affix]

Compounds

태말 (太末, taemal)
태유 (太油, taeyu)
마태 (馬太, matae)
장태 (醬太, jangtae)
청태 (靑太, cheongtae)
한시태출 (旱時太出, hansitaechul)
흑태 (黑太, heuktae)

Vietnamese

Han character

太: Hán Nôm readings: Thái

This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

[NHK-1] 1998, NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 (NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: NHK, →ISBN

[KDJ-2] 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan