Translation guide
The English word 'immense' describes something extremely large, great, or significant in size, degree, or intensity. In Japanese, there is no single direct equivalent; instead, different words and expressions are used depending on what is being described (physical size, abstract scale, emotional impact, etc.). This guide organizes the most natural ways to express 'immense' in Japanese by meaning.
Describing something of enormous physical dimensions, such as a building, mountain, or crowd.
The most common and versatile adjective for 'immense' in terms of physical size. Can be used for objects, structures, and natural features.
そのビルは巨大だ。
That building is immense.
巨大な山が目の前にそびえていた。
An immense mountain towered before us.
Often used for immense amounts, especially of money, data, or resources. Can also describe physical scale, but leans toward quantitative vastness.
莫大な費用がかかった。
It cost an immense amount of money.
莫大な量のデータを処理する。
Process an immense amount of data.
Specifically refers to immense expanses of land, space, or area. Common for landscapes, deserts, oceans, and fields.
広大な砂漠が広がっている。
An immense desert stretches out.
Describing immense influence, impact, difficulty, or abstract magnitude.
Literally 'immeasurable', this phrase conveys that something is so immense it cannot be fully grasped. Used for abstract concepts like influence, value, or potential.
彼の影響力は計り知れない。
His influence is immense.
計り知れない価値がある。
It has immense value.
Used for immense damage, impact, or suffering, often in formal or news contexts. Implies a serious, negative scale.
甚大な被害が出た。
There was immense damage.
Means 'tremendous' or 'immense' and is often used for positive abstract things like trust, popularity, or power.
彼は絶大な人気を誇っている。
He enjoys immense popularity.
Expressing that something is so grand or powerful it evokes deep emotion, wonder, or overwhelm.
A natural phrase meaning 'so immense it can't be put into words'. Used for overwhelming beauty, gratitude, or shock.
言葉にできないほど感動した。
I was immensely moved, beyond words.
Means 'overwhelming' and is used for immense presence, power, or beauty that dominates the senses.
圧倒的な美しさに息をのんだ。
I was breathless at the immense beauty.
Describing an extremely large number of things or people.
The go-to word for immense numbers, amounts of data, documents, or items. Very common in both spoken and written Japanese.
膨大な数の応募があった。
There were an immense number of applications.
膨大なデータを分析する。
Analyze an immense amount of data.
Literally 'countless', used when the number is so immense it feels infinite. Often for stars, grains of sand, etc.
無数の星が輝いていた。
Immense numbers of stars were shining.
These three are often confused. 巨大 (kyodai) is for physical size (a huge building). 莫大 (bakudai) is for immense monetary or resource amounts (a huge cost). 膨大 (boudai) is for immense numbers or volumes of items/data (a huge number of files). Choose based on what is immense.
English 'immense' is very broad. In Japanese, using a single word like 巨大 for everything can sound unnatural. Always consider what is immense: size, number, feeling, or impact, and pick the appropriate expression.