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Kanji for Big

The kanji most commonly used for "Big" are 大、巨、太.

Kanji that mean Big

  • big, greatly

    Also associated with excellent.

    Onyomi: dai, tai Kunyomi: oo, oo.ini, oo.kii 3 strokes Jōyō

  • large

    Also associated with many, why.

    Onyomi: kyo 5 strokes Jōyō

  • thick

    Also associated with very, great.

    Onyomi: ta, tai Kunyomi: futo.i, futo.ru 4 strokes Jōyō

  • robust, manly, grand

    Onyomi: soh Kunyomi: sakan 6 strokes Jōyō

大 is the default. It is big in every ordinary sense and among the first characters anyone learns — 大きい (big), 大学 (university), 偉大 (great). It also works as an intensifier, so 大成功 is a huge success rather than a physically large one.

巨 is bigness as towering scale, and in modern writing it heads compounds rather than standing alone: 巨大 (enormous), 巨人 (a giant). Where 大 is neutral, 巨 is emphatic.

太 is big as thickness. 太い is thick or stout, and the character means great in 太陽 (the sun) and 太平洋 (the Pacific Ocean). It is one stroke from 大 in shape and quite different in use.

壮 is size as vigor — robust, magnificent, in the prime of life. 壮大 is grand in scale and 壮健 is hale and hearty. It describes the impression a large thing makes rather than its measurements.

Before you use Big kanji

大 is safe and universally read as big, though it is plain to the point of blankness — an extremely ordinary character. 巨 rarely stands alone. 太 will be read as thick or fat before it is read as great, so it is a risky choice on a person.

Other meanings to explore

See all kanji by meaning →

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