Translation guide
The English word "full" covers several distinct concepts: being filled to capacity, being complete or whole, being satiated after eating, and being plump or ample. This guide organizes natural Japanese expressions by these core meanings.
Expressing that a container, room, or schedule has no empty space or time left.
The most common and versatile word for 'full'. Can be used for containers, rooms, schedules, and more. Often used with だ/です or as an adverb with に.
コップが水でいっぱいだ。
The glass is full of water.
今日のスケジュールはいっぱいです。
Today's schedule is full.
Specifically means 'full of people', used for venues, vehicles, etc. Often used in 満員電車 (crowded train).
会場は満員だった。
The venue was full (of people).
この電車は満員です。
This train is full.
Literally 'full cup', but used more broadly for containers being full to the brim. Slightly more formal or emphatic than いっぱい.
バケツが満杯になった。
The bucket became full.
Pattern meaning 'full of ~'. Attach to a noun with で.
部屋が本でいっぱいだ。
The room is full of books.
Expressing that something is not lacking any part; the maximum amount or extent.
Means 'complete' or 'perfect'. Used as a na-adjective. For 'full' in the sense of 'full set' or 'full recovery', this is natural.
完全な回復には時間がかかる。
A full recovery takes time.
完全なセットを買った。
I bought the full set.
Prefix meaning 'all', 'whole', 'full'. Attach to nouns: 全世界 (the whole world), 全速力 (full speed).
全速力で走った。
I ran at full speed.
全文を読んでください。
Please read the full text.
Adverb meaning 'whole', 'entirely', often used for eating something whole or using something in its entirety.
Loanword from English, used in compounds like フルタイム (full-time), フルスピード (full speed). Casual.
フルで働いています。
I work full-time.
Expressing that one's stomach is full after a meal.
The standard phrase for 'I'm full' (stomach is full). Polite and natural.
もうお腹がいっぱいです。
I'm already full.
A more formal or written word for 'full stomach'. Often used in 満腹感 (feeling of fullness).
満腹で動けない。
I'm so full I can't move.
Describing something that is round, thick, or abundant in shape or volume.
Onomatopoeic word for soft, plump fullness, often used for cheeks, bread, cushions. Positive connotation.
ふっくらしたパンが焼けた。
The bread baked up nice and plump.
Adverb meaning 'ample', 'plenty', 'full'. Used for volume, time, quantity. たっぷりの as an adjective.
Means 'rich', 'abundant', often used for hair, nature, imagination. For 'full' as in 'full hair' or 'full flavor', this works.
彼女は豊かな髪をしている。
She has full, rich hair.
Loanword 'volume' used to mean 'full-bodied' or 'voluminous', especially for hair, food, sound.
ボリュームのあるスカート。
A full skirt.
While いっぱい can be used for schedules, directly translating 'My schedule is full' as スケジュールがいっぱい is natural. However, for 'fully booked', 予約でいっぱい is better than フルブッキング.
今週は予約でいっぱいです。
We are fully booked this week.
いっぱい is the general term for 'full'. 満杯 emphasizes being filled to the brim (containers). 満員 is exclusively for spaces full of people. Use 満席 for seats being full.
魚をまるごと食べた。
I ate the fish whole (the full fish).
More casual and masculine version of お腹がいっぱい. Used among friends.
腹いっぱい食った。
I ate my fill.
たっぷりのクリームがのったケーキ。
A cake with a generous amount of cream.
時間はたっぷりある。
We have plenty of time.