Translation guide
How to express 'largest' in Japanese, covering size, scale, and degree.
Describing the biggest physical object, area, or entity.
The most common and natural way to say 'largest' for physical size. Works in most contexts.
この部屋が一番大きいです。
This room is the largest.
The largest lake in Japan is Lake Biwa.
More formal and often used in written language or technical contexts. Directly modifies a noun.
これは世界最大の空港です。
This is the largest airport in the world.
Literary or formal equivalent of 一番大きい. Less common in everyday speech.
最も大きい課題は資金不足だ。
The largest challenge is lack of funds.
Referring to the greatest amount, number, or proportion.
Used for countable or measurable quantities. Natural in conversation.
このクラスで一番多いのは女子学生です。
The largest group in this class is female students.
一番多い回答は「はい」でした。
The largest number of responses was 'yes'.
Formal option for quantities, often in reports or news.
最大の輸出国は中国です。
The largest exporter is China.
Expressing the greatest level of something abstract, like influence or importance.
Common for abstract nouns like 'problem', 'factor', 'concern'.
最大の問題は時間がないことです。
The largest problem is that there's no time.
健康が最大の財産だ。
Health is the largest asset.
Slightly more casual than 最大の, but still common for abstract concepts.
一番の理由はお金です。
The largest reason is money.
一番 is the default for spoken Japanese. 最も is more formal and often used in writing or speeches. Both mean 'most' or '-est'.
一番大きい / 最も大きい
largest
大きい refers to physical size. For numbers or amounts, use 多い (many/much) or 最大の (maximum). Saying 一番大きい数 sounds unnatural; use 一番多い数 or 最大数.