How to say "multitude" in Japanese

• 群衆ぐんしゅうCommon
  nounCovers 'multitude' as a large crowd — a mass of people gathered in one place, such as onlookers at a scene. The common word for this sense.
  群衆ぐんしゅうが現場げんばに群むらがった。↗

  A crowd gathered at the scene.
• 十重二十重とえはたえ
  nounA less common word that pictures a multitude as layer upon layer — people packed so densely they form rank after rank, as when onlookers close in around someone.
• 複数個ふくすうこ
  nounReally means 'multiple units' — several discrete items or pieces rather than a vast number; seldom the word you want for 'multitude' in the sense of a great mass.
• 衆多しゅうた
  nounTakes 'multitude' as sheer great numbers — an abundance of people or things rather than a crowd gathered in one place. A less common word that stresses how many there are.
• 億兆おくちょう
  nounMeans the multitude as the populace — the masses, the people at large. A less common word; unless you mean the common people as a whole, it is seldom the right choice.

For an actual crowd of people use 群衆; 十重二十重 pictures dense layered ranks; 衆多 stresses great numbers; 億兆 means the masses as a populace; 複数個 really just means multiple discrete items.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 群衆ぐんしゅうgroup (of people)
• 十重二十重とえはたえmultitude
• 複数個ふくすうこmultitude
• 衆多しゅうたmultitude
• 億兆おくちょうthe people
• ８００はっぴゃくmultitude