Translation guide
This English phrase describes a crowd, multitude, or many individuals. Japanese offers several expressions depending on formality, context, and whether the focus is on the sheer number, the gathering, or the collective action.
To express that there are many people in a neutral or everyday context.
The most common and versatile word for 'many people'. Used as a noun or adverbially.
公園に大勢の人がいた。
There were a large number of people in the park.
大勢で映画を見に行った。
We went to see a movie in a large group.
Literally 'many people'. Slightly more formal or written than 大勢, but still common.
多くの人がそのイベントに参加した。
A large number of people participated in the event.
Casual, conversational equivalent of 'many people'. Very common in speech.
駅にたくさんの人が並んでいた。
A large number of people were lined up at the station.
To emphasize a dense gathering or mass of people, often in a public space.
Refers to a crowd of people, often implying congestion or difficulty moving. Common in daily life.
人混みを避けて早めに帰った。
I left early to avoid the crowds.
祭りの人混みで迷子になった。
I got lost in the festival crowd.
A more formal or literary term for a crowd or multitude. Often used in news or descriptions of gatherings.
A cluster or knot of people, often gathered around something of interest (an accident, a performer, etc.).
To stress a very large, often uncountable number of people, in formal, written, or rhetorical contexts.
Formal expression for 'a large number of people'. Common in reports, news, and official statements.
多数の人が避難を余儀なくされた。
A large number of people were forced to evacuate.
Emphasizes a great many people; slightly more emphatic than 多くの人. Used in speeches and writing.
数多くの人が彼の死を悼んだ。
A great many people mourned his death.
The masses, the general public. Often used in sociological or political contexts.
To describe many people acting collectively or participating in an activity.
Adverb meaning 'in large numbers' or 'en masse', used when many people do something together, often with a sense of movement.
観光客が大挙して押し寄せた。
Tourists came flooding in large numbers.
Onomatopoeic adverb describing a continuous stream of people moving in a line or group, often casually.
子供たちがぞろぞろと教室に入ってきた。
The children came into the classroom in a large group.
大勢 (おおぜい) is the most natural and common way to say 'many people' in everyday Japanese. 多くの人 (おおくのひと) is slightly more formal and often appears in writing. たくさんの人 is casual and very common in speech. All three are interchangeable in many contexts, but 大勢 specifically refers to people, while 多く and たくさん can be used for things as well.
English 'a large number of people' can be translated literally as 多数の人, but this sounds formal. In casual conversation, 大勢 or たくさんの人 are much more natural. Using 大きい数 (large number) for people is incorrect.
群衆が広場に集まった。
A crowd gathered in the square.
事故現場に人だかりができていた。
A crowd had formed at the accident scene.
大衆の意見を無視してはならない。
We must not ignore the opinion of the masses.