Japanese word

多い

Pronunciation

Romajiōi

Meaning

  • i-adjectivemany, a lot

Example

この店は人が多いです。ko no mise wa hito ga ō i de su

There are many people in this store.

Illustration for 多い (many)

More examples

宿題が多いです。shuku dai ga ō i de su

There is a lot of homework.

人が多い時間は、電車がとても混みます。hito ga ō i ji kan wa den sha ga to te mo ko mi ma su

Trains get very crowded during the hours when there are many people.

Core concept

It marks a situation in which the amount or number of something exceeds what is usual or expected.

Common phrases

  • 人が多いhito ga ō i

    many people

  • 仕事が多いshi goto ga ō i

    a lot of work

  • 店が多いmise ga ō i

    many stores

Definition in Japanese

人や物の数・量が基準とする程度を上回っているさま。hito ya mono no kazu ryō ga ki jun to su ru tei do o uwa mawa tte i ru sa ma

Word origin

多い (ōi) comes from the native Japanese adjective 多し (ōshi), an older form meaning "many" or "much".

Usage tips

  • The pattern 人が多い (hito ga ōi) is used for a place with many people, while English often uses the separate adjective "crowded."

Opposites

Related words

  • 多さōsaabundancenoun

Word lists with this word