大たい勢せい

た

い

せ

い

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

Refers to the broad direction or state of affairs, often in political, social, or economic contexts. Common in phrases like 大勢に従う (follow the trend) or 大勢を占める (gauge the situation).

世よ論ろんの大たい勢せいは改かい革かくを支し持じしている。
The general trend of public opinion supports reform.
彼かれはいつも大たい勢せいに逆さからわずに行こう動どうする。
He always acts without going against the general trend.

noun

large majority; majority group

Used when referring to the numerically dominant part of a group, faction, or organization. Often contrasted with a minority (少数).

党とう内ないの大たい勢せいはその法ほう案あんに賛さん成せいしている。
The large majority within the party supports the bill.
大たい勢せいの意い見けんに従したがうことにした。
I decided to follow the opinion of the majority.

See all 11 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

大たい勢せいに従したがうto go along with the general trend
個こ人じんの意い見けんはあるが、結けっ局きょくは大たい勢せいに従したがうことになった。
I had my own opinion, but in the end I went along with the general trend.
大たい勢せいを占しめるto make up the majority; to dominate as the prevailing trend
改かい革かくを支し持じする意い見けんが大たい勢せいを占しめている。
Opinions in favor of the reform now make up the majority.
大たい勢せいは変かわらないthe overall situation/trend does not change
多た少しょうの反はん対たいはあっても、大たい勢せいは変かわらないだろう。
Even with some opposition, the general trend probably won't change.

Kanji

大large, big
勢forces, energy, military strength

Related words

趨すう勢せい sense 1
趨勢 is a formal, often written term for a long-term trend or tendency, while 大勢 is more common in everyday speech for the general state of affairs.
多た数すうN3sense 2
多数 just means 'a large number', while 大勢 (sense 2) specifically points to the dominant majority group within a defined body.
情じょう勢せいN1sense 1
情勢 focuses on the current state of circumstances (often political or international), whereas 大勢 emphasizes the overall direction things are heading.
主しゅ流りゅう sense 2
主流 highlights the mainstream faction or current within a group, close to 大勢 (sense 2) when contrasting with a minority opinion.

Opposites

少しょう数すうN3sense 2
少数 means 'minority', the direct opposite of 大勢 (sense 2) when referring to the numerically dominant part of a group.

Don't confuse with

大おお勢ぜいN5
Written the same as 大勢 (たいせい, 'general trend/majority'), but read おおぜい it instead means 'a large crowd of people'.
体たい制せいN2
大勢 (same pronunciation) means the general trend of events or a great many people, while 体制 refers to an organized system or regime.

Word family

大たい勢せい順じゅん応のう
conformism; following the crowd; going with the flow

Etymology

Compound of 大 (large, great) and 勢 (power, force, situation). The meaning 'general situation' developed from the idea of a large force or momentum, while 'majority' comes from the notion of the dominant group.