あまた

あ

ま

た

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', adverb, noun

usually written using kana aloneformal or literary

Formal or literary term meaning a large number or quantity. Often used in written language or elevated speech.

あまたの〈物もの〉countless ~; a great many ~
彼かれはあまたの困こん難なんを乗のり越こえて成せい功こうした。
He overcame countless difficulties to succeed.
あまたある〈物もの〉の中なかでamong the many ~ that exist
あまたある作さく品ひんの中なかで、これが最もっとも評ひょう価かされている。
Among the countless works out there, this one is the most highly regarded.

たくさんN5
たくさん is the common, everyday word for 'many' or 'a lot', while あまた is formal and literary.
数かず多おおく
数多く is a slightly formal but still common expression meaning 'in large numbers', while あまた is more literary and less frequent.
幾いく多たN1
幾多 and あまた are both literary words for 'many/countless', often interchangeable in formal writing.
多た数すうN3
多数 is a more neutral, statistical-sounding word for 'a large number', whereas あまた carries a literary, elevated tone.

少すくないN5
少ない means 'few, little in number', the direct opposite of あまた's 'many, numerous'.

Applies to each form listed below

gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun

あまたUsage88%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 数多 and 許多 are rare and literary.
数多あまたUsage12%
Rare kanji form; the reading あまた is a jukujikun.
許多あまた
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; the reading あまた is a jukujikun.

The exact derivation is uncertain; the word has been used in classical Japanese with the meaning 'many'.