大 expresses the idea “large”. Meet it in an adjective and in everyday words, where its reading can change.
The idea
大 has 3 strokes. Draw the horizontal, then the left-falling and right-falling strokes. 大きい can describe a noun or end a sentence before です; 大きな goes directly before a noun. 大学 is read だいがく; 大人 is read おとな. Learn each word with its reading.
| Japanese form | Meaning and use |
|---|---|
| 大きい | adjective: large |
| 大きな | before a noun: large |
| 大学 | university |
| 大人 | adult |
Examples
- 大きい犬がいます。There is a big dog.
- この部屋は大きいです。This room is big.
- 大きな木を見ます。I see a big tree.
- 大学で日本語を勉強します。I study Japanese at university.
- 大人は三人です。There are three adults.
- 大きいかばんを買います。I buy a big bag.
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Watch out
Do not use 大きな alone as a sentence ending: put a noun after it. Compare 大 with 犬 and notice the extra stroke in the similar character.
Try it yourself
Write おおきい using kanji.
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大きい
大きい writes おおきい with the kanji 大 and its kana ending.
Choose the form that can directly precede a noun: 大きな / 大きいです.
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大きな
大きな goes directly before a noun; 大きいです is a predicate and cannot go in that slot.
Choose the word for university: だいがく / おとな. Write it in kanji.
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大学
大学 is the word for university and is read だいがく.
Which reading means adult: おとな / だいがく? Write it in hiragana.
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おとな
大人 means adult and is read おとな; learn the whole word.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Write おおきい using kanji.
Choose the form that can directly precede a noun: 大きな / 大きいです.
Choose the word for university: だいがく / おとな. Write it in kanji.
Which reading means adult: おとな / だいがく? Write it in hiragana.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write 大 three times in stroke order. Describe one object with 大きい and one noun with 大きな; read both compound words in the table aloud.