“Many” in Japanese is 多い (おおい), pronounced ōi.
Pronunciation
The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Many or a lot. Usually used at the end of a sentence: 人が多い. Before nouns, use たくさんの.
Example sentences
- 東京は人が多いです。とうきょうはひとがおおいです。Tokyo has a lot of people.
- 今年は雨が多いです。ことしはあめがおおいです。There’s been a lot of rain this year.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 多い. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 多い おおい | many |
| Polite present | 多いです おおいです | is many |
| Negative | 多くないです おおくないです | isn’t many |
| Past | 多かったです おおかったです | was many |
| Past negative | 多くなかったです おおくなかったです | wasn’t many |
| て-form | 多くて おおくて | many and… |
| Adverb (く) | 多く おおく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say many in Japanese?
Many in Japanese is 多い (おおい), pronounced “ōi”.
How do you write many in Japanese?
It's written 多い with kanji, or おおい in hiragana. Both are read ōi.
Is 多い on the JLPT?
Yes. 多い (ōi) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.