Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing 'crowd of people' depends on the nuance: a general gathering, a bustling throng, a disorderly mob, or a formal assembly. The most common word is 人混み (hitogomi), referring to a busy, crowded place. Other terms emphasize size, movement, or formality.
Describing a place with many people, such as a street, station, or event.
The most common word for a crowd of people in a public place. Implies a bustling, somewhat congested atmosphere.
The area in front of the station is always crowded with people.
I avoided the crowd and took a back street.
Refers to the turnout or number of people present, often used for events or holidays.
There was a huge crowd during the consecutive holidays.
A more formal or literary term for a crowd or multitude. Often used in news reports.
A crowd gathered in the square.
Emphasizing a large number of people moving together, like a wave or flood.
A crowd that is unruly, chaotic, or potentially dangerous.
A crowd of onlookers or rubberneckers, often at an accident or incident. Slightly derogatory.
A crowd of onlookers gathered at the accident scene.
An idiom meaning a disorderly mob or rabble, literally 'a crowd of crows'. Used in formal or critical contexts.
A crowd assembled for a specific purpose, such as a ceremony or speech.
人混み (hitogomi) focuses on the crowdedness of a place, while 人出 (hitode) focuses on the number of people who have turned out. Use 人混み for 'the station was crowded' and 人出 for 'there was a big turnout at the festival'.
The English phrase 'crowd of people' is often redundant in Japanese. Simply using 人混み or 群衆 is sufficient. Avoid saying 人々の群衆 (hitobito no gunshū), which sounds unnatural.
It's tough to walk against the flow of the crowd.
They are nothing but a disorderly mob.
観衆は熱狂した。
The crowd went wild.