How to Say ‘Big / major’ in Japanese
大きな
ookina
[oh-kee-nah]
💬 Usage Tip: [大きな] means “big/major” and often pairs with problems: [大きな問題]. Note it’s the adjectival form used before a noun.
🇯🇵 In Japan: In medical talk, “big/major” often means “urgent or dangerous.” If you hear [大きな問題はない], it usually means “not alarming,” but you may still need follow-ups.
Phrase Breakdown
大きな
ookina
[oh-kee-nah]
big; major; serious
Modifies a noun to mean “big/major.” In medical contexts, 大きな問題 = a serious problem.
大きな問題はありません。
There is no major problem.
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