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最大 (さいだい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

最さい大だい

さ

い

だ

い

Common word›JLPTN3›Freq.FrequencyTop 1,000

Meanings

1

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

biggest; greatest; largest; maximum

Used for the highest degree, size, amount, or limit. Common in both noun and adjectival (〜の) positions. Antonym: 最小 (smallest/minimum).

Antonyms: 最小

この部屋へやの最さい大だいの魅み力りょくは、広ひろい窓まどからの景色けしきです。

The biggest appeal of this room is the view from the large window.

最さい大だいで10人にんまで参さん加かできます。

A maximum of 10 people can participate.

Usage patterns

最さい大だいの〈物もの〉the biggest/greatest ~
この薬くすりは最さい大だいの効こう果かを発はっ揮きする。
This medicine produces the greatest effect.
最大さいだいに達たっするto reach the maximum
台たい風ふうの勢せい力りょくは今こん夜や、最さい大だいに達たっする見み込こみだ。
The typhoon's intensity is expected to reach its maximum tonight.
最さい大だいを記き録ろくするto record the highest/biggest ~ on record
今こん年ねんの売うり上あげは過か去こ最さい大だいを記き録ろくした。
This year's sales recorded the highest figure ever.

Kanji

最utmost, most, extreme
大large, big

Related words· 8

最さい高こうN3
最大 refers to the greatest size, quantity, or extent, whereas 最高 refers to the highest degree or best quality, not necessarily size.
最さい多たN3
最多 specifically refers to the greatest quantity or number of countable things, whereas 最大 refers to the greatest size, scale, or degree in general.
マックス
最大 is the native Japanese word for 'maximum' used in both formal and casual contexts, while マックス is a casual loanword with the same meaning.
上じょう限げん
最大 is the general word for 'maximum' in any context, while 上限 specifically denotes a set or imposed ceiling (e.g. a budget or quota cap).

Show 4 more

最さい大だい限げんN1
最大限 stresses the upper limit that cannot be exceeded, whereas 最大 simply means 'the biggest/greatest' without that limit nuance.
全ぜん開かい
最大 is a general word for 'maximum', whereas 全開 specifically describes something opened or unleashed to its fullest extent.
究きゅう極きょくN1
最大 refers to the greatest measurable amount or size, whereas 究極 points to an abstract, unsurpassable limit in kind or degree.

Opposites

最さい小しょうN3
smallest; least; minimum; minimal
ミニマム
最大 is the standard Japanese word for 'largest' or 'maximum,' contrasting with ミニマム's sense of 'smallest.'

Don't confuse with

最さい長ちょう
最長 specifically means longest in length or duration, whereas 最大 means largest in size, quantity, or degree more generally.

Word family· 32

最さい大だい限げんN1
maximum; greatest possible · to the fullest; as much as possible
最さい大だい公こう約やく数すう
greatest common divisor; GCD
最さい大だい値ち
maximum value

Etymology

Compound of 最 (most) and 大 (big). The reading さいだい is the standard on'yomi combination.

極きょく度ど

最大 is used for measurable, quantitative maximums (最大値 'maximum value'), whereas 極度 is used for the intensity of a state or feeling.

最さい大だい化か

maximization

最さい大だい数すう

maximum number; maximum; limit

Show 7 more

最さい大だい級きゅう
largest class; top category
最さい大だい量りょう
maximum amount; greatest quantity; largest dose
世せ界かい最さい大だい
world's largest; biggest in the world
史し上じょう最さい大だい
greatest in history; largest ever; biggest on record
最さい大だい多た数すう
greatest number of people; the largest majority
最さい大だい表ひょう示じ
full screen; maximized view
最さい大だい規き模ぼ
largest scale; biggest

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