‘Dà yǔ’ literally means ‘big rain’ — combining 大 (dà), meaning ‘large’ or ‘heavy’, and 雨 (yǔ), meaning ‘rain’. Together, they form a compound noun that specifically refers to heavy, intense rainfall — not just any rain, but rain strong enough to cause puddles, reduced visibility, or disruption to outdoor activities. It’s commonly used in weather forecasts, news reports, and everyday conversation when describing downpours.

This term is neutral in register and widely understood across all Chinese-speaking regions. Unlike the more literary or poetic term 暴雨 (bào yǔ, ‘torrential rain’), 大雨 carries no implication of danger or disaster — it simply emphasizes volume and intensity. You’ll often hear it paired with time expressions (e.g., 今天下午有大雨) or verbs like 下 (xià, ‘to fall’) as in 大雨下了两个小时 (‘Heavy rain fell for two hours’).