Translation guide
The English word "spacious" describes a place that feels large, open, and uncluttered. In Japanese, the most common and natural way to express this is with the adjective 広い (hiroi). However, depending on the nuance—such as emphasizing openness, a sense of freedom, or roominess—other expressions can be used. This guide covers the main ways to convey "spacious" in Japanese, from everyday words to more specific or literary terms.
spacious (feeling open)
Emphasizes openness, often due to design.
To describe a room, house, or area that is physically large and has plenty of space.
The most common and versatile word for "spacious" or "wide." It can describe rooms, houses, parks, and other physical spaces. It simply means having a large area.
This room is very spacious, isn't it?
I want to live in a house with a spacious living room.
Emphasizes a feeling of openness and spaciousness, often used for places that feel airy and unconfined. It's a more descriptive, evocative form of 広い.
Conveys a sense of comfortable spaciousness, often implying that there is plenty of room to relax. It can also describe clothing that is loose-fitting, but for spaces it suggests a relaxed, uncrowded feeling.
Means "vast" or "expansive," used for very large areas like landscapes, deserts, or huge estates. It's more formal and literary than 広い.
To emphasize that a space feels open and airy, often because of high ceilings, large windows, or minimal clutter.
Describes a space that feels open and free, often due to design elements like large windows or an open floor plan. It focuses on the psychological feeling of openness rather than just physical size.
The ceiling is high and it feels spacious (open).
Literally "has a feeling of openness." It's a common phrase to describe the pleasant sensation of being in a spacious, unconfined area.
Implies a sense of freedom and room to stretch out, both physically and mentally. Often used for environments where one can relax without feeling constrained.
To describe a space that can accommodate people or things comfortably without feeling crowded, often focusing on interior spaces like cars or rooms.
Again, the default word. When talking about roominess, 広い is perfectly natural.
This car has a spacious back seat.
Means "to have room to spare" or "to have leeway." It suggests that the space is more than sufficient and not cramped.
Similar to ゆとりがある, but can also imply a sense of composure or extra capacity. For spaces, it means there is plenty of room.
広大な (koudai na) means "vast" and is too strong for everyday rooms or apartments. Use it only for very large areas like national parks or huge estates.
広い is a simple statement of size. 広々とした adds a feeling of pleasant openness. Use 広々とした when you want to emphasize the airy, unconfined quality of a space.
I want a spacious apartment.
The hotel lobby was very spacious.
Emphasizes the open, airy feeling.
We had a picnic in a spacious park.
This office is spacious and easy to work in.
I sat on a spacious (comfortably large) sofa and watched a movie.
This café has spacious seating and is very comfortable.
A mansion built on a spacious (vast) estate.
This house has large windows and feels very spacious (open), doesn't it?
This room feels spacious and pleasant.
I can do creative work in a spacious (free and open) environment.
This apartment is spacious enough for two people.
I want a house with spacious storage.
This living room is still spacious even with furniture.