Japanese

Adjective

沢山 ‎(hiragana たくさん, romaji takusan)

1. many, numerous

Usage notes

In classical Japanese, used with なる ‎(naru) to modify nouns: 沢山なる人々‎ ― takusan naru hitobito ― many people

In modern Japanese, used with the particle の ‎(no) to modify nouns: 沢山の人々‎ ― takusan no hitobito ― many people

Adverb

沢山 ‎(hiragana たくさん, romaji takusan)

1. much, a great deal, liberally, a lot

Usage notes

Unlike many other adjectival nouns that have adverbial senses, 沢山 as an adverb omits the particle に ‎(ni) when used before a verb. Compare:

• Correct: ケーキを静 (しず)かに食 (た)べました。

  Kēki o shizuka ni tabemashita.

  We ate cake quietly.

• Incorrect: ケーキを静 (しず)か食 (た)べました。

  Kēki o shizuka tabemashita.

  We quiet ate cake.

• Incorrect: ケーキを沢山 (たくさん)に食 (た)べました。

  Kēki o takusan ni tabemashita.

  We ate cake manily.

• Correct: ケーキを沢山 (たくさん)食 (た)べました。

  Kēki o takusan tabemashita.

  We ate a lot of cake.

Noun

沢山 ‎(hiragana たくさん, romaji takusan)

1. much, a lot

Synonyms

• 大 (おお)勢 (ぜい) ‎(ōzei) (only for people)

References

1. ↑ 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
2. 1 2 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, ISBN 4-385-13905-9