Translation guide
The English word "great" covers many meanings, from size and intensity to quality and skill. This guide breaks down the most useful Japanese expressions for each core meaning, helping you choose the right word for the context.
Expressing that something is very good, impressive, or enjoyable.
The most common and versatile word for 'great' in the sense of 'wonderful' or 'excellent'. Suitable for most situations.
素晴らしい映画でした。
It was a great movie.
彼は素晴らしい先生です。
He is a great teacher.
Literally 'the best', used informally to mean 'great', 'awesome', or 'fantastic'. Very common in casual speech.
Means 'amazing' or 'incredible', often used to express that something is great in an impressive or surprising way. Can be used as an exclamation.
Means 'great' in the sense of 'greatness' of a person or achievement, implying historical or moral significance. More formal and literary.
彼は偉大な指導者だった。
He was a great leader.
Describing something physically large, extensive, or of considerable magnitude.
Referring to something of great importance, influence, or seriousness.
Describing a person's high level of ability or talent.
Means 'good at' or 'skilled'. The most common way to say someone is great at a skill.
彼女は料理が上手だ。
She is a great cook.
あなたは英語が上手ですね。
You're great at English.
Emphasizing the degree or intensity of something, often with emotions or sensations.
Expressing a large quantity or extent.
Means 'many' or 'a lot of'. The most common way to say 'a great many'.
たくさんの人が来た。
A great many people came.
Used with abstract nouns like 'effort', 'influence', 'support' to mean 'a great deal of'.
Used in terms like great-grandfather, great-aunt, etc.
English 'great' often means 'excellent' or 'wonderful', not 'large'. Using 大きい for a 'great movie' would sound like you're talking about the physical size of the film. Use 素晴らしい or 最高 instead.
素晴らしい映画
a great movie
素晴らしい is the safest, most standard word for 'great/wonderful'. 最高 is more casual and emphatic ('the best!'). すごい is also casual and implies amazement. In formal writing, stick to 素晴らしい or 優れた.
素晴らしい結果です。
Great results. (formal)
彼は素晴らしい友達です。
He is a great friend.
このピザ、最高！
This pizza is great!
旅行は最高だった。
The trip was great.
Great! You did well.
彼の演技はすごかった。
His performance was great.
The standard word for 'big' or 'large'. Use this for physical size.
彼は大きい家に住んでいる。
He lives in a great big house.
その犬はとても大きい。
That dog is really great in size.
Means 'huge' or 'enormous', emphasizing extraordinary size. More emphatic than 大きい.
巨大なビルが建った。
A great big building was constructed.
Means 'great' in the sense of 'a great amount' of something abstract, like effort or influence. Formal.
多大な努力が必要だ。
A great deal of effort is needed.
Pre-noun adjectival form of 大きい, often used for abstract concepts like 'a big problem' or 'a great influence'. More natural than 大きい for abstract nouns.
それは大きな問題だ。
That's a great problem.
彼は大きな影響を与えた。
He had a great influence.
Means 'important' or 'significant'. Use when 'great' implies importance rather than size.
これは重要な決定です。
This is a great decision.
Again, for 'great' in the sense of greatness of a person or achievement, implying historical importance.
彼は偉大な発明家だ。
He is a great inventor.
Means 'excellent' or 'superior', often used for outstanding ability or quality. Slightly more formal.
彼は優れた技術を持っている。
He has great skills.
Can also mean 'amazingly skilled'. Very casual.
彼はすごいギタリストだ。
He's a great guitarist.
Used with abstract nouns like 'joy', 'pain', 'surprise' to mean 'great'.
大きな喜びを感じた。
I felt great joy.
大きな痛みがあった。
There was great pain.
Adverb meaning 'very' or 'extremely'. Can be used to intensify adjectives.
非常に興味深い話だ。
That's a greatly interesting story.
Means 'terrible' or 'tremendous', often used for great difficulty or hardship.
大変な努力が必要だ。
It requires great effort.
We received a great deal of support.
Means 'numerous' or 'a great number of'. More formal and written.
数多くの問題が残っている。
A great many problems remain.
Great-grandfather. The pattern uses 曽 (そう) for one generation back, 高 (こう) for two, etc.
私の曽祖父は明治生まれです。
My great-grandfather was born in the Meiji era.
Great-grandmother.
曽祖母の写真を見つけた。
I found a photo of my great-grandmother.
Great-uncle (older than parent). Note: 大伯父 (おおおじ) for older, 叔父 (おじ) for younger, but often simplified.
大伯父に会いに行った。
I went to see my great-uncle.
Great results! (casual)
When 'great' means 'considerable' or 'significant' with abstract nouns (influence, joy, problem), use 大きな instead of 大きい. 大きい is for physical size; 大きな is for abstract scale.
大きな影響
a great influence
Great results! (casual)
When 'great' means 'considerable' or 'significant' with abstract nouns (influence, joy, problem), use 大きな instead of 大きい. 大きい is for physical size; 大きな is for abstract scale.
大きな影響
a great influence