dae

Dae is a short form that appears as a given name or nickname in East Asian contexts, especially Korea. In Korean, the syllable dae is a common element in many given names and can be represented by different hanja characters; the meaning therefore depends on the chosen characters. Common readings include 大 meaning "great" or "big," and 代 meaning "generation" or "era." Because hanja characters can vary widely, many different meanings are possible for names that include dae.

Outside Korea, Dae may occur as a romanization of other names or as an acronym. In English-language contexts, it is sometimes used as a standalone given name or nickname, though less common than in Korean. The pronunciation in English typically rhymes with "day."

As a surname, Dae is uncommon in Korea and elsewhere; when encountered it may be an alternative romanization or a transliteration difference from other East Asian surnames.

In fiction and popular usage, Dae may appear as a character name or as part of a compound name; its connotations depend on the background of the work.

There is no single, universally accepted definition of Dae; instead it is a versatile syllable with multiple possible origins and meanings depending on linguistic and cultural context.