Translation guide
The English word "quantity" can refer to an amount, a number, or a volume. In Japanese, the best translation depends on what is being counted or measured, and whether the context is formal, technical, or everyday.
To refer to a quantity in a general sense, such as an amount of something or a number of items.
General word for quantity, amount, or volume. Used for both countable and uncountable things.
Please measure the quantity of water.
仕事の量が多すぎる。
The quantity of work is too much.
More formal or technical term for quantity, often used in business, logistics, or mathematics.
数量を確認してください。
Please check the quantity.
Refers to a measured amount, often in recipes or when portioning. Implies a specific share or measure.
砂糖の分量はこれでいいですか。
Is this quantity of sugar okay?
To emphasize that there is a lot of something.
Means a large quantity or mass. Commonly used for both physical objects and abstract things like data.
大量のゴミが捨てられていた。
A large quantity of trash had been dumped.
大量のデータを処理する。
Process a large quantity of data.
Similar to 大量, but slightly more formal or technical. Often used in scientific or medical contexts.
To refer to a small amount or a few items.
Means a small quantity. Neutral and widely used.
少量の塩を加えてください。
Add a small quantity of salt.
Means 'only a little' or 'a tiny amount'. Often used as an adverb or adjective.
To refer to a numerical value or a measurable property in technical contexts.
To refer to the number of people or animals.
General word for number or count. Often used for countable items, including people.
参加者の数が増えた。
The quantity of participants increased.
Specifically the number of people.
To refer to quantity in the context of economics, such as quantity demanded or supplied.
Standard term in economics for quantity.
需要数量が供給数量を上回っている。
The quantity demanded exceeds the quantity supplied.
量 (りょう) is used for uncountable or mass quantities (water, work, information), while 数 (かず) is used for countable items (people, books, apples). When in doubt, 量 is safer for abstract amounts, and 数 for discrete counts.
In everyday conversation, Japanese speakers often use more specific counters or words like たくさん (a lot) or 少し (a little) instead of a generic word for 'quantity'. Using 量 or 数量 in casual contexts can sound stiff or overly formal.
砂糖はどのくらい必要ですか。
What is the quantity of sugar needed?
Natural Japanese often uses どのくらい (how much) instead of a noun like 量.
大量の紙を注文しました。
We ordered a large quantity of paper.
Please consume a large quantity of fluids.
Only a small quantity of water remains.
変数xは未知の数量を表す。
The variable x represents an unknown quantity.
人数を数えてください。
Please count the quantity of people.