大きい

• Reading: おおきい
• Romaji: ookii
• Kanji breakdown: 大 (oo/dai) — big, large, great
• Pronunciation: /o.o.ki.i/

Meaning

Big; large; great. One of the first adjectives learned in Japanese.

An i-adjective (い-adjective) that describes physical size, scale, or magnitude. Conjugates by dropping い: 大きくない (not big), 大きかった (was big), 大きくなかった (was not big). Can also appear as 大きな before nouns as an alternative prenominal form with the same meaning.

Examples

1. あの木はとても大きいです。 That tree is very big.
2. 兄は大きい車が好きです。 My older brother likes big cars.
3. このかばんは大きすぎます。 This bag is too big.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, descriptions, comparisons

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 大 depicts a person with arms stretched wide, symbolising greatness or largeness.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal