莫大

• Reading: ばくだい
• Romaji: bakudai
• Kanji breakdown: 莫 (baku) — not, nothing (intensifier); 大 (dai) — big, great
• Pronunciation: /ba.kɯ.da.i/

Meaning

Vast; immense; enormous. Describes an extremely large amount, especially of money or costs.

A na-adjective most commonly paired with money, costs, or profits: 莫大な費用 (immense costs), 莫大な利益 (enormous profits), 莫大な借金 (massive debt). Stronger than 膨大 and carries a sense of being almost incalculable. Primarily used in written and formal speech.

Examples

1. 事故の賠償金は莫大な金額になった。 The accident's compensation amounted to an immense sum.
2. 彼は莫大な財産を残して亡くなった。 He passed away leaving behind a vast fortune.
3. 開発に莫大な費用がかかることが分かった。 It turned out that the development would cost an enormous amount.

Usage Guide

Context: finance, news, legal

Tone: emphatic

Origin & History

Compound of 莫 (baku, not/nothing — used as an intensifier meaning 'beyond measure') and 大 (dai, big/great). Together, 'immeasurably great' — beyond what can be easily quantified.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal