Translation guide
The English word "quantity" can refer to an amount, a number, or a volume. In Japanese, the best translation depends on what is being counted or measured, and whether the context is formal, technical, or everyday.
To refer to a quantity in a general sense, such as an amount of something or a number of items.
General word for quantity, amount, or volume. Used for both countable and uncountable things.
水の量を測ってください。
Please measure the quantity of water.
The quantity of work is too much.
More formal or technical term for quantity, often used in business, logistics, or mathematics.
Please check the quantity.
Refers to a measured amount, often in recipes or when portioning. Implies a specific share or measure.
Is this quantity of sugar okay?
To emphasize that there is a lot of something.
Means a large quantity or mass. Commonly used for both physical objects and abstract things like data.
A large quantity of trash had been dumped.
Similar to 大量, but slightly more formal or technical. Often used in scientific or medical contexts.
To refer to a small amount or a few items.
To refer to a numerical value or a measurable property in technical contexts.
To refer to the number of people or animals.
To refer to quantity in the context of economics, such as quantity demanded or supplied.
Standard term in economics for quantity.
The quantity demanded exceeds the quantity supplied.
量 (りょう) is used for uncountable or mass quantities (water, work, information), while 数 (かず) is used for countable items (people, books, apples). When in doubt, 量 is safer for abstract amounts, and 数 for discrete counts.
In everyday conversation, Japanese speakers often use more specific counters or words like たくさん (a lot) or 少し (a little) instead of a generic word for 'quantity'. Using 量 or 数量 in casual contexts can sound stiff or overly formal.
What is the quantity of sugar needed?
Natural Japanese often uses どのくらい (how much) instead of a noun like 量.
We ordered a large quantity of paper.
Process a large quantity of data.
Please consume a large quantity of fluids.
Only a small quantity of water remains.
変数xは未知の数量を表す。
The variable x represents an unknown quantity.
人数を数えてください。
Please count the quantity of people.