绝大部分
How to Understand
绝大部分 means 'the majority' or 'most of something.' It is used to indicate that a large portion of a group, amount, or situation falls under a certain category or condition. Unlike other expressions like 'most,' it often emphasizes a near-complete or overwhelming majority.
The character 绝 (jué) originally meant 'extreme' or 'absolute,' and here it intensifies the meaning. 大 (dà) means 'big' or 'large,' 部 (bù) refers to 'part' or 'section,' and 分 (fēn) means 'to divide' or 'portion.' Together, they form a phrase that literally translates to 'the largest part.'
绝大部分 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, such as in news reports, academic writing, or everyday conversation. It can refer to people, things, or ideas. For example, it might be used to say 'the majority of students passed the exam' or 'the majority of the population supports the policy.'