Translation guide
The English word "many" is used with countable nouns to indicate a large number. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is たくさん (takusan), which can be used as an adverb, adjective, or noun. Other expressions like 多い (ooi) and 多数 (tasuu) are used in different grammatical contexts or registers. Learners should be careful with the grammatical differences between English and Japanese, especially that 多い is an adjective that cannot directly modify nouns with の.
Expressing that there is a large quantity of countable items or people.
The most common and versatile word for 'many'. It can be used as an adverb (たくさんある), an adjective (たくさんの人), or a noun. Suitable for both spoken and written Japanese.
公園にたくさんの人がいます。
There are many people in the park.
本をたくさん買いました。
I bought many books.
An adjective meaning 'many' or 'much'. It cannot directly modify a noun with の (×多いの人). Instead, use it as a predicate (人が多い) or in relative clauses (人が多い町). Often used in more descriptive or written contexts.
Do not use 多いの + noun. Use 多くの (ooku no) instead if you need to modify a noun directly.
この町は観光客が多い。
This town has many tourists.
最近、雨の日が多いですね。
There have been many rainy days recently, haven't there?
The adnominal form of 多い, used to directly modify nouns. It is more formal than たくさんの and common in written Japanese.
多くの人がその意見に賛成した。
Many people agreed with that opinion.
A formal noun meaning 'a large number' or 'many'. Often used in news, reports, or official contexts. Can be used as 多数の + noun.
多数の死傷者が出た。
There were many casualties.
Emphasizing that the number is very large, often with a sense of 'so many' or 'countless'.
Can be used with emphasis or intonation to mean 'so many'. In casual speech, it can be repeated or used with もう.
もうたくさんだ！
I've had enough! (literally: It's already many/enough!)
宿題がたくさんありすぎる。
I have way too many homework assignments.
Literally 'to the extent that one cannot count', meaning 'countless' or 'innumerable'. Used for emphasis.
空には数えきれないほどの星があった。
There were countless stars in the sky.
Casual word meaning 'full of' or 'a lot of'. Often used in spoken Japanese. Can be used as an adverb or with の.
Indicating that an action occurs many times or frequently.
Literally 'many times', used to describe repeated actions. Can be used with past or present tense.
彼には何度も会ったことがある。
I have met him many times.
Similar to 何度も, but 回 is a counter for occurrences. Slightly more casual.
この映画を何回も見た。
I've seen this movie many times.
An adverb meaning 'often' or 'frequently', slightly formal. Used in written or polite speech.
たくさん is more versatile and can directly modify nouns with の (たくさんの人). 多い is an adjective that cannot use の to modify nouns; instead, use 多くの (多くの人) or a relative clause (人が多い町). たくさん is slightly more common in spoken Japanese, while 多い and 多くの are neutral or slightly formal.
A common learner mistake is to say ×多いの人. The correct forms are 多くの人 or 人が多い. Remember that 多い is a predicate adjective and cannot directly attach to a noun with の.
ここは人が多すぎる。
There are too many people here.
今日はやることがいっぱいある。
I have a ton of things to do today.
彼はたびたび遅刻する。
He is late many times / frequently.