Translation guide
Expressing a large amount in Japanese depends on whether you're talking about quantity, volume, money, or degree. Common words include たくさん (takusan) for general 'a lot', 多い (ooi) as an adjective, and 大量 (tairyou) for 'large quantity' in formal contexts.
Expressing that there is a large amount of something in a general, everyday sense.
The most common and versatile word for 'a lot' or 'many'. Can be used as an adverb or a noun. Works with both countable and uncountable things.
There are a lot of people in the park.
I have a lot of homework.
An adjective meaning 'many' or 'much'. Used to describe a noun directly. Note that it cannot be used before a noun without a relative clause; say 人が多い (there are many people), not 多い人.
This town has many tourists.
There's a lot of rain this year, isn't there?
Casual word meaning 'full' or 'a lot'. Often used in spoken Japanese. Can be an adverb or a noun.
I'm full. (lit. stomach full)
I have a lot of work today.
Referring to a large amount in a more formal, written, or technical context, often for goods, data, or substances.
Means 'large quantity' or 'massive amount'. Used in formal, business, or technical contexts. Often paired with に or の.
Analyze a large amount of data.
Similar to 大量 but slightly less common. Also means 'large quantity', often used in scientific or medical contexts.
Means 'enormous' or 'vast', often used for amounts of data, information, or money. Emphasizes the scale.
Specifically referring to a large sum of money.
Means 'large amount of money' or 'fortune'. Commonly used in everyday and business contexts.
I won a large amount of money in the lottery.
Means 'large amount of money' or 'high price'. Often used in contexts like 'high-income' or 'expensive'.
Expressing that a lot of time or effort is involved.
Means 'great' or 'considerable', used with nouns like 時間 (time), 努力 (effort), 影響 (influence). Formal.
I spent a great deal of time.
It requires a great deal of effort.
Means 'considerable' or 'quite a lot of'. Less formal than 多大な, used in both spoken and written Japanese.
It took quite a lot of time.
Expressing that something is done to a large extent or degree.
The adjective 多い cannot directly modify a noun like in English 'many people'. Instead, use 多くの (ooku no) or a relative clause: 人が多い (there are many people).
Many people gathered.
たくさん is an adverb/noun meaning 'a lot', while 多い is an adjective meaning 'many/much'. たくさん can be used more flexibly, but 多い is needed to describe a state. For example, 人がたくさんいる (there are a lot of people) vs 人が多い (there are many people).
The factory produces in large quantities.
Please consume a large amount of fluids.
膨大な費用がかかる。
It costs an enormous amount of money.
高額の寄付をいただきました。
We received a large donation.
That story was very helpful.
非常に多くの人が集まった。
A very large number of people gathered.