Translation and Meaning of: 大きい - ookii

The Japanese word 大きい [おおきい] is one of the essential adjectives for those learning the language. Its main meaning is "big," but it carries nuances that go beyond physical size. In this article, we will explore everything from its origin and writing to its everyday use in this common expression in Japan. If you've ever wondered how to memorize it or in what contexts it appears, keep reading to find out.

Meaning and usage of 大きい

大きい is an adjective that describes something with broad dimensions, whether in size, quantity, or even importance. While in Portuguese we use "grande" for objects and "alto" for height, in Japanese, 大きい can cover both cases. For example, a spacious house or an imposing mountain can be referred to as 大きい.

In addition to its literal meaning, this word also appears in everyday expressions. Phrases like 大きい声で話す (talk in a loud voice) or 大きい夢 (big dream) show how the term adapts to abstract contexts. It's worth noting that, unlike 大きな (another form of "big"), 大きい is more grammatically versatile.

The origin and writing of 大きい

The kanji 大, which is part of 大きい, is one of the first that students learn. It represents the idea of "big" and appears in words like 大人 (adult) and 大学 (university). The reading おおきい is one of the most common for this character, but it can also be read as だい or たい in compounds.

Interestingly, the form in hiragana おおきい is often used by children or in informal contexts, while the version with kanji is more common in adult writing. This duality reflects how Japanese balances tradition and practicality in daily life.

Tips for memorizing and using 大きい

An effective way to remember 大きい is to associate it with impressive objects. Think of things like 大きい木 (big tree) or 大きい建物 (big building). Creating flashcards with images of large-scale elements can help visualize and memorize the term.

Another tip is to pay attention when you hear the word in animes or dramas. Characters often use it to describe anything from gifts to problems. This contact with real usage will make 大きい seem less like a textbook word and more part of your active vocabulary.

For those who use apps like Anki, including sentences like この箱は大きいです (this box is big) or 彼は大きい車を持っている (he has a big car) in daily reviews speeds up learning. The key is to vary the examples to cover different situations.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 巨大な (Kyodai na) - huge
• 大規模な (Dai kikō na) - On a large scale, broad
• 大きな (Ōkina) - great
• 大きめの (Ōkime no) - A bit large
• 大型の (Ōgata no) - Large scale
• 大量の (Tairyō no) - In large quantities
• 大きすぎる (Ōkisugiru) - Excessively large
• 大きくなる (Ōkiku naru) - Increase in size
• 大きく変わる (Ōkiku kawaru) - Change significantly

大きい

Romaji: ookii
Kana: おおきい
Type: adjective
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: large

Meaning in English: big;large;great

Definition: has a wide range.

Example Sentences - (大きい) ookii

See below some example sentences:

間接的な影響は大きいです。

Kansetsuteki na eikyou wa ookii desu

The indirect impact is great.

• 間接的な - adjective meaning "indirect"
• 影響 - noun meaning "influence"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 大きい - adjective meaning "big"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

波が大きいですね。

Nami ga ookii desu ne

The waves are big

The waves are big.

• 波 (nami) - wave
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 大きい (ookii) - large
• です (desu) - verb ser/estar (polite form)
• ね (ne) - confirmation/emphasis particle

トップに立つ人は責任が大きいです。

Toppu ni tatsu hito wa sekinin ga ookii desu

The person at the top is responsible.

• トップに立つ人 - person at the top
• は - Topic particle
• 責任 - responsibility
• が - subject particle
• 大きい - large
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

トラックは大きい車です。

Torakku wa ookii kuruma desu

A truck is a large car.

The truck is a large car.

• トラック - Japanese word meaning "truck"
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 大きい - Japanese adjective meaning "big"
• 車 - Japanese word meaning "car"
• です - Japanese verb meaning "to be" or "to be", used to indicate a statement

分母は分子よりも大きいです。

Bunbo wa bunshi yori mo ookii desu

The denominator is larger than the molecule.

• 分母 - means "denominator" in Japanese.
• は - It is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 分子 - It means "numerador" in Japanese.
• よりも - It is a Japanese expression that means "more than".
• 大きい - means "big" in Japanese.
• です - It is a polite way to say "is" in Japanese.

声が大きい人は迷惑です。

Koe ga ookii hito wa meiwaku desu

People with loud voices are annoying.

• 声が大きい人 - person with a loud voice
• は - Topic particle
• 迷惑 - discomfort
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

大きい犬が公園で走っている。

Ookii inu ga kouen de hashitte iru

A large dog is running in the park.

• 大きい - adjective meaning "big"
• 犬 - noun meaning "dog"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 公園 - noun that means "park"
• で - Particle that indicates the place where the action occurs
• 走っている - verb meaning "to be running" in the present tense and continuous form

私の鼻は大きいです。

Watashi no hana wa ookii desu

My nose is big.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - possessive particle that indicates that "鼻" (hana) is "mine"
• 鼻 (hana) - noun that means "nose"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates that "鼻" is the topic of the sentence
• 大きい (ookii) - adjective meaning "big"
• です (desu) - linking verb that indicates the existence or state of something, in this case, "is"

本館は大きな図書館です。

Honkan wa ookina toshokan desu

The main library is large.

The main building is a large library.

• 本館 - means "main building" or "primary building"
• は - topic particle, used to indicate the subject of the sentence
• 大きな - adjective that means "big" or "spacious"
• 図書館 - means "library"
• です - verb "to be" in the present, used to indicate the existence or nature of something

原爆は人類にとって大きな悲劇です。

Gembaku wa jinrui ni totte ookina higeki desu

The atomic bomb is a great tragedy for humanity.

The atomic bomb is a great tragedy for humanity.

• 原爆 (genbaku) - Atomic bomb
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 人類 (jinrui) - humanity
• にとって (ni totte) - For
• 大きな (ookina) - great
• 悲劇 (higeki) - tragedy
• です (desu) - is