Translation guide
Expressing a large number or quantity in Japanese, from casual to formal.
The speaker wants to emphasize that there are very many countable items or individuals.
The most common and neutral way to say 'many' or 'a lot'. Works in both casual and polite speech.
公園に人がたくさんいます。
There are a great many people in the park.
Slightly formal, emphasizes the number. Often used in writing or speeches.
数多くの応募がありました。
We received a great many applications.
Formal, often used in news or business contexts. Literally 'a large number of'.
多数の参加者が集まった。
A great many participants gathered.
Casual, often used in spoken Japanese. Can mean 'full' but also 'a lot'.
宿題がいっぱいある。
I have a great many homework assignments.
The speaker wants to emphasize a large quantity of a mass noun (time, money, effort, etc.).
Also works for uncountable things. Very versatile.
時間がたくさんかかった。
It took a great deal of time.
Formal, used for quantities of substances or abstract things.
多量のデータを処理する。
Process a great many data.
Common in both spoken and written Japanese for large quantities, often physical.
大量の水が必要だ。
A great many water is needed.
The speaker wants to stress that the number is surprisingly or impressively large.
Literally 'very many', a direct and strong way to say 'a great many'.
非常に多くの人がそのイベントに来た。
A great many people came to the event.
Very emphatic, literary. Implies an overwhelming or staggering number.
おびただしい数の星が見えた。
A great many stars were visible.
English 'a great many' is an idiom meaning 'very many'. Do not use 偉大な (great/eminent) or 素晴らしい (wonderful) to translate it. Use quantity words like たくさん or 非常に多くの.