How do you say "big" in Japanese?

大きい

ookii

Adjective Kanji

In Japanese, "big" is 大きい (ookii).

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Pronunciation

大きい is written using kanji. Romanised as ookii, it sounds roughly like "oh-kee" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

The kanji 大 is one of the most fundamental characters in Japanese, appearing in many compound words. It combines with other kanji to form words like 大学 (daigaku, university) and 大使 (taishi, ambassador).

Example sentence

この木はとても大きいです。

Kono ki wa totemo ookii desu.

This tree is very big.

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How to remember 大きい

Picture the kanji as a simple figure with arms and legs spread wide apart, literally showing bigness. The shape visually demonstrates the concept of something expansive.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese adjectives.

Questions about 大きい

How do you pronounce 大きい?

大きい is romanised as ookii. Say it roughly like "oh-kee" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 大きい formal or casual?

大きい is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 大きい written in Japanese?

大きい is written using kanji. The kanji 大 is one of the most fundamental characters in Japanese, appearing in many compound words.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"Big" in other languages

Curated by Callan Ratcliffe

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