noun
large room
General term for a spacious room, often in a building or facility.
会議は大部屋で行われた。
The meeting was held in a large room.
noun
green room; performers' waiting room
Backstage area where performers wait when not on stage; common in theater and TV contexts.
The performers wait for their turn in the green room.
noun-modifying (irregular)
junior actor; bit player
Refers to a low-ranking actor who plays small roles and shares a common dressing room; also used attributively as 大部屋俳優.
彼は大部屋俳優からスターになった。
He went from being a bit player to a star.
noun
large hospital room; ward
A shared hospital room for several patients, as opposed to a private room.
大部屋には6人の患者が入院している。
Six patients are hospitalized in the large ward.
noun
ōbeya; obeya room
A project management technique in manufacturing where cross-functional teams meet in a shared room to improve communication and problem-solving.
トヨタの大部屋方式は効率的な情報共有を可能にする。
Toyota's obeya system enables efficient information sharing.
Dressing room for performers; 大部屋 can refer to a shared green room, while 楽屋 is a more general term for backstage rooms.
Hospital room; 大部屋 specifically means a large shared ward, while 病室 can be any patient room.
Compound of 大 (おお, 'large') and 部屋 (へや, 'room'). The extended meanings derive from the idea of a shared large room in specific contexts.