Translation guide
The English word "great" covers many meanings, from size and intensity to quality and skill. This guide breaks down the most useful Japanese expressions for each core meaning, helping you choose the right word for the context.
Expressing that something is very good, impressive, or enjoyable.
The most common and versatile word for 'great' in the sense of 'wonderful' or 'excellent'. Suitable for most situations.
It was a great movie.
Literally 'the best', used informally to mean 'great', 'awesome', or 'fantastic'. Very common in casual speech.
Means 'amazing' or 'incredible', often used to express that something is great in an impressive or surprising way. Can be used as an exclamation.
Means 'great' in the sense of 'greatness' of a person or achievement, implying historical or moral significance. More formal and literary.
He was a great leader.
Describing something physically large, extensive, or of considerable magnitude.
Referring to something of great importance, influence, or seriousness.
Pre-noun adjectival form of 大きい, often used for abstract concepts like 'a big problem' or 'a great influence'. More natural than 大きい for abstract nouns.
Describing a person's high level of ability or talent.
Means 'good at' or 'skilled'. The most common way to say someone is great at a skill.
Emphasizing the degree or intensity of something, often with emotions or sensations.
Expressing a large quantity or extent.
Means 'many' or 'a lot of'. The most common way to say 'a great many'.
A great many people came.
Used in terms like great-grandfather, great-aunt, etc.
English 'great' often means 'excellent' or 'wonderful', not 'large'. Using 大きい for a 'great movie' would sound like you're talking about the physical size of the film. Use 素晴らしい or 最高 instead.
a great movie
素晴らしい is the safest, most standard word for 'great/wonderful'. 最高 is more casual and emphatic ('the best!'). すごい is also casual and implies amazement. In formal writing, stick to 素晴らしい or 優れた.
He is a great friend.
He is a great teacher.
このピザ、最高！
This pizza is great!
The trip was great.
Great! You did well.
His performance was great.
The standard word for 'big' or 'large'. Use this for physical size.
He lives in a great big house.
That dog is really great in size.
Means 'huge' or 'enormous', emphasizing extraordinary size. More emphatic than 大きい.
A great big building was constructed.
Means 'great' in the sense of 'a great amount' of something abstract, like effort or influence. Formal.
A great deal of effort is needed.
That's a great problem.
He had a great influence.
Means 'important' or 'significant'. Use when 'great' implies importance rather than size.
This is a great decision.
Again, for 'great' in the sense of greatness of a person or achievement, implying historical importance.
He is a great inventor.
She is a great cook.
You're great at English.
Means 'excellent' or 'superior', often used for outstanding ability or quality. Slightly more formal.
He has great skills.
Can also mean 'amazingly skilled'. Very casual.
He's a great guitarist.
Used with abstract nouns like 'joy', 'pain', 'surprise' to mean 'great'.
I felt great joy.
There was great pain.
Adverb meaning 'very' or 'extremely'. Can be used to intensify adjectives.
That's a greatly interesting story.
Means 'terrible' or 'tremendous', often used for great difficulty or hardship.
It requires great effort.
Used with abstract nouns like 'effort', 'influence', 'support' to mean 'a great deal of'.
We received a great deal of support.
Means 'numerous' or 'a great number of'. More formal and written.
A great many problems remain.
Great-grandfather. The pattern uses 曽 (そう) for one generation back, 高 (こう) for two, etc.
My great-grandfather was born in the Meiji era.
Great-grandmother.
I found a photo of my great-grandmother.
Great-uncle (older than parent). Note: 大伯父 (おおおじ) for older, 叔父 (おじ) for younger, but often simplified.
I went to see my great-uncle.
素晴らしい結果です。
Great results. (formal)
Great results! (casual)
When 'great' means 'considerable' or 'significant' with abstract nouns (influence, joy, problem), use 大きな instead of 大きい. 大きい is for physical size; 大きな is for abstract scale.
a great influence
I had a great time.
More natural than 素晴らしい時間