Definition
大我 is a philosophical and political term contrasting with 小我 (the individual self). It refers to a broader, collective identity — the self as part of the universe, society, the state, or the nation. In Buddhist contexts it means the true, universal self beyond ego. In modern Chinese discourse, especially in PRC rhetoric, it often appears in the phrase 牺牲小我，完成大我 ('sacrifice the small self to fulfill the big self'), urging individuals to prioritize the collective good over personal interests.
n.
(philosophy/politics) the collective selfthe greater self (as opposed to the individual)(Buddhism) the true selfthe universal self
Examples
- ，大我。Tā yuànyì xīshēng xiǎo wǒ, chéngjiù dà.He is willing to sacrifice his individual self to achieve the greater self.
- ，大我。Zài jítǐ zhōng, dà de lìyì gāo yú yíqiè.In a collective, the interests of the greater self are above all.
- ，大我。Fójiào rènwéi, xiūxíng shì wèile rènshi dà.Buddhism holds that spiritual practice is for recognizing the true self.
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