Translation guide
The English word 'tremendous' expresses a very high degree of something, often with a sense of awe or emphasis. In Japanese, the best choice depends on whether you are describing size, amount, quality, or emotional impact. Common options include すごい (sugoi) for general emphasis, 莫大な (bakudai na) for huge amounts, and 途方もない (tohō mo nai) for something unimaginably large.
Use this when describing something that is extremely large in quantity, size, or degree, such as a tremendous amount of money, a tremendous effort, or tremendous pressure.
A formal adjective meaning 'enormous' or 'immense', typically used for amounts, sums, or scales. It emphasizes the sheer size or quantity.
そのプロジェクトには莫大な費用がかかった。
The project required a tremendous amount of money.
彼は莫大な富を築いた。
He amassed a tremendous fortune.
Similar to 莫大な, but often used for data, information, or quantities that are vast and expansive. Slightly more common in technical contexts.
膨大なデータを分析する必要がある。
We need to analyze a tremendous amount of data.
A very common casual adjective meaning 'amazing' or 'incredible'. It can express a tremendous degree of something, but is less formal and more versatile. Often used in spoken Japanese.
Means 'great' or 'considerable', often used for abstract nouns like influence, effort, or support. It is formal and commonly seen in written Japanese.
多大なご支援に感謝します。
Thank you for your tremendous support.
Use this when you want to praise something as wonderful, excellent, or awe-inspiring, like a tremendous performance or a tremendous view.
The standard word for 'wonderful' or 'splendid'. It conveys a high degree of admiration and is appropriate in most situations.
素晴らしい景色ですね。
What a tremendous view!
彼女は素晴らしい才能を持っている。
She has tremendous talent.
Casual and versatile, it can mean 'amazing', 'incredible', or 'terrific'. Very common in everyday speech.
Literally 'unreasonable' or 'outrageous', it can be used to describe something so impressive it's almost unbelievable. It has a literary or dramatic feel.
Use this for physical size, like a tremendous building, a tremendous wave, or a tremendous distance.
Means 'huge' or 'gigantic'. The most direct and common word for tremendous physical size.
巨大な波が船を襲った。
A tremendous wave hit the ship.
An emphatic, colloquial adjective meaning 'extraordinary' or 'immense'. It often implies something beyond normal scale.
とてつもない大きさの建物だ。
It's a building of tremendous size.
Used mainly for damage or impact that is tremendous in scale, often in news reports. Not for general size.
地震で甚大な被害が出た。
The earthquake caused tremendous damage.
Use this for force, emotion, or sensation that is overwhelming, like tremendous pain, tremendous joy, or a tremendous explosion.
Means 'violent', 'intense', or 'fierce'. It is the go-to word for tremendous physical or emotional intensity.
激しい痛みに襲われた。
I was struck by a tremendous pain.
激しい競争が繰り広げられた。
There was tremendous competition.
Means 'fierce' or 'raging', often used for natural forces, speed, or effort. It conveys a sense of overwhelming power.
猛烈な暑さが続いている。
The heat has been tremendous.
Describes something terrific, dreadful, or amazing in intensity. It can be positive or negative, but always emphasizes extreme degree.
English speakers often overuse 'tremendous' as a general intensifier. In Japanese, it's more natural to choose a specific adjective that matches the context (size, amount, quality, intensity). Using すごい for everything can sound childish or vague in formal settings.
Both mean 'enormous', but 莫大な is more about value or cost, while 膨大な is often used for data, information, or volume. 莫大な費用 (tremendous cost) vs 膨大なデータ (tremendous amount of data).
彼女は驚くべき進歩を遂げた。
She has made tremendous progress.
それは大成功だった。
It was a tremendous success.
私たちは途方もない課題に直面している。
We face a tremendous challenge.
I'm feeling tremendous pressure.
That was a tremendous movie!
彼の成功は途方もないものだ。
His success is tremendous.
すさまじい爆発音が聞こえた。
We heard a tremendous explosion.