Japanese word

大きな

Pronunciation

Romajiōkina

Meaning

  • pre-noun adjectivalbig

Example

これは大きな犬です。ko re wa ō ki na inu de su

This is a big dog.

Illustration for 大きな (big)

More examples

今日は大きな絵をかきます。kyō wa ō ki na e o ka ki ma su

I draw a big picture today.

彼は大きな声で話します。kare wa ō ki na koe de hana shi ma su

He speaks in a loud voice.

Core concept

Presents a person, thing, or situation as exceeding an ordinary standard of size, importance, or degree.

Common phrases

  • 大きな会社ō ki na kai sha

    large company

  • 大きな夢ō ki na yume

    big dream

  • 大きな音ō ki na oto

    loud noise

Similar words

大きいōkii: Describes a person or thing as large, important, or high in degree and can end a complete sentence.

Definition in Japanese

大きさや重要さなどが並み以上であるさま。ō ki sa ya jū yō sa na do ga na mi i jō de a ru sa ma

Word origin

The form 大きな (ōkina, "big") is historically related to 大きい (ōkii, "big") and preserves an older pattern for modifying nouns.

Usage tips

  • Unlike 大きい (ōkii), which can end a complete sentence, 大きな (ōkina) normally appears directly before a noun, as in 大きな犬 (ōkina inu).

Other meanings

  • greatpre-noun adjectival

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word