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広大 (こうだい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

広こう大だい

こ

う

だ

い

Common word›JLPTN2›Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective, noun

vast; immense; extensive

Describes something extremely large in scale, area, or scope, often with a sense of grandeur. Used for landscapes, buildings, knowledge, and abstract concepts.

その国

こく

立りつ

公こう

園えん

は

広こう

大だい

な

敷しき

地ち

を

誇ほこ

っ

て

いる

。

The national park boasts vast grounds.

彼かれは広こう大だいな知ち識しきを持もっている。

He has extensive knowledge.

Usage patterns

広こう大だいな〈場ば所しょ〉が広ひろがるa vast ~ stretches out
窓まどの外そとには広こう大だいな草そう原げんが広ひろがっていた。
A vast grassland stretched out beyond the window.
広こう大だいな〈物もの〉を所しょ有ゆうするto own a vast (piece of land, property, etc.)
その一いち族ぞくは広こう大だいな土と地ちを所しょ有ゆうしている。
That family owns a vast tract of land.
広こう大だいな宇う宙ちゅうthe vast universe
彼かれは広こう大だいな宇う宙ちゅうについて研けん究きゅうしている。
He researches the vast universe.
広こう大だいな〈事こと〉知ち識しきvast knowledge (of a field)
教きょう授じゅは広こう大だいな知ち識しきを持もっている。
The professor has vast knowledge.

Kanji

広wide, broad, spacious
大large, big
宏wide, large
弘vast, broad, wide

Related words· 7

巨きょ大だいN3
巨大 stresses sheer physical size or bulk of an object or creature, while 広大 highlights expansiveness of area or scope.
莫ばく大だいN3
莫大 describes an enormous amount, especially of money or effort, whereas 広大 describes vast spatial or conceptual extent.
雄ゆう大だいN1
雄大 conveys grandeur and majesty, often for awe-inspiring scenery, while 広大 simply emphasizes vast size or extent without that emotional weight.

Show 3 more

広ひろ々びろN2
広大 is a formal, often literary word for vast or extensive areas (like deserts or plains), whereas 広々 is a softer, everyday word describing a pleasantly open space.
広こう範はん
広大 usually describes physically vast spaces or scale, while 広範 focuses on the breadth of scope, range, or distribution.
果はてしないN1
広大 describes something vast in size or area, while 果てしない emphasizes that something seems to have no visible end or limit.

Opposites

狭きょう小しょう
狭小 means narrow and cramped in area, the direct opposite of the vast expanse described by 広大.

Don't confuse with

拡かく大だいN3
拡大 is a verb/noun meaning 'to enlarge or expand' something, while 広大 is an adjective meaning 'vast'; learners confuse them because of the similar 広/拡 kanji and related size meaning.

Word family

広こう大だい無む辺へん
boundless; infinite; vast
気き宇う広こう大だい
magnanimous; broad-minded; generous in spirit

Written forms

広こう大だいUsage98%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency in news and general use.
宏こう大だいUsage2%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
弘こう大だいUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Etymology

Compound of 広 (wide, broad) and 大 (large, great). The spelling 広大 is the standard modern form; 宏大 and 弘大 are rare variants using characters with similar meanings.

広ひろい

N4

広大 is a more formal na-adjective for 'vast, immense', typically describing landscapes or large-scale areas, while 広い is the everyday word usable for rooms or minds too.