Four Big Things

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The Four Big Things (Chinese: 四大件; pinyin: sì dà jiàn) is a term originally applied to the four symbols of material success in China from the 1950s until the 1970s, and is now used to refer to any visible marker of newfound affluence.[1] The original list was:

  1. A sewing machine
  2. A bicycle
  3. A wristwatch, generally from Shanghai Watch Company
  4. A radio receiver, usually Red Star or Red Lantern brand

More recently, the "Four Big Things" could include televisions, refrigerators, cameras, cell phones, computers, apartments, cars, etc.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Foster, Angus (September 24, 2012). "Chinese families' worldly goods in Huang Qingjun's pictures". BBC News. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  2. ^ "各年代"四大件":永不磨灭的痕迹". Joy.cn (in Chinese). Archived from the original on August 30, 2009. Retrieved September 25, 2012.