Here's the breakdown:
* 大 (dà): Means "big" or "large".
* 连 (lián): Means "connect" or "link".
While the literal meaning is "big connection," the name's deeper meaning reflects Dalian's historical and geographical significance. It was a major port city, connecting China with other countries through trade and communication.
However, it's worth noting that the name "Dalian" is a shortened form of the original name "Dalianwan" (大连湾), which literally means "big connected bay" and refers to the bay where the city is located.