How to say "enormous" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- i-adjectiveThe colloquial everyday word for something huge: a casual, spoken way to call an object big or enormous. Reach for it in conversation rather than formal writing.
- 巨大きょだいna-adjective, nounEnormous physical size or scale: gigantic buildings, creatures, machines, or organizations. When 'enormous' describes how big a concrete thing is, this is the word you usually want.
- 膨大ぼうだいna-adjectiveEnormous in quantity: vast amounts of data, information, work, time, or money. Use it when 'enormous' means the sheer volume or number of something rather than physical size.
- 多大ただいna-adjective, no-adjectiveGreat or enormous in amount or degree, typically of abstract things — effort, influence, damage, loss. Rarely the word for a physically enormous object; think 'a great deal of' rather than 'huge'.
- 絶大ぜつだいna-adjective, nounTremendous or immense in degree, used for intangibles such as enormous support, popularity, trust, or influence. It is not the word for physically enormous things.
Use 「でかい」 for casually calling something huge, 巨大 for enormous physical size, 膨大 for vast quantities, 多大 for great amounts of abstract things, and 絶大 for tremendous support, influence, or popularity.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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