Translation guide
Expressing a large quantity or high degree. Japanese uses various quantifiers, adverbs, and adjectives depending on what is being described and the context.
人がたくさんいます。
There are a lot of people.
宿題がたくさんある。
I have a lot of homework.
To say there is a large number or amount of something.
General, neutral word for 'a lot' or 'many'. Can be used as an adverb or noun.
公園に人がたくさんいます。
There are a lot of people in the park.
宿題がたくさんある。
I have a lot of homework.
Adjective meaning 'many' or 'much'. Used as a predicate or modifier. Note: 多い cannot directly modify a noun; use 多くの instead.
今年は雨が多い。
There's a lot of rain this year.
多くの人が集まった。
A lot of people gathered.
Casual, colloquial word for 'a lot' or 'full'. Often used in spoken Japanese.
昨日、お菓子をいっぱい食べた。
I ate a lot of snacks yesterday.
Formal/literary expression meaning 'a large quantity of'. Used in written or technical contexts.
大量のデータを処理する。
Process a lot of data.
To say something happens often or to a great extent.
Adverb meaning 'often' or 'a lot' (in the sense of frequency).
彼はよく映画を見る。
He watches movies a lot.
Adverb meaning 'considerably' or 'quite a lot'. Emphasizes degree.
Very common casual intensifier meaning 'very' or 'a lot'. Used with adjectives and verbs.
すごく疲れた。
I'm really tired (a lot tired).
To refer to a large amount or number as a noun.
Can also be used as a noun meaning 'a lot'.
たくさんは要らない。
I don't need a lot.
Noun form of 多い, meaning 'a lot' or 'many'. Often used in formal contexts.
多くを学んだ。
I learned a lot.
The adjective 多い cannot directly modify a noun. Use 多くの (おおくの) instead. For example, 'many people' is 多くの人, not 多い人.
たくさん is an adverb/noun and can be used flexibly. 多い is an adjective and must follow grammatical rules for adjectives. たくさん is slightly more colloquial.
This problem is quite difficult (a lot difficult).