多 – Kanji Meaning, Reading, and Common Words

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What does 多 mean in Japanese?

多 means many or much in Japanese. It is the kanji in 多い (ooi, many), one of the first adjectives learners study, and in 多分 (tabun, probably), one of the most frequently spoken words in everyday Japanese.

多 has two main readings. Read it as おおい (ooi) in the adjective 多い, meaning ‘many,’ and as タ (ta) in compounds such as 多分 (tabun, probably) and 多数 (tasuu, a large number). Its shape, two stacked 夕 (evening) characters, is often used as a memory aid for ‘many evenings.’

Reading

On’yomi: タ (ta)

Kun’yomi: おお-い (oo-i)

Basic Information

Kanji 多
Meaning many, much
Stroke Count 6
JLPT Level N4

How to Understand This Kanji

多 expresses quantity rather than size. The adjective 多い usually follows what it describes, as in 人が多い (there are many people), and the form 多くの is used before a noun, as in 多くの人 (many people). In compounds read as タ, it appears in 多数 (a large number) and 多少 (somewhat), and in the spoken filler 多分 (probably).

Common Words

  • 多い（おおい / ooi） — many, numerous
  • 多分（たぶん / tabun） — probably, perhaps
  • 多く（おおく / ooku） — many, a large number (of)
  • 多数（たすう / tasuu） — a large number, majority
  • 多め（おおめ / oome） — a little extra, on the large side
  • 多少（たしょう / tashou） — somewhat, more or less

Example Sentences

  • この町は人が多いです。

    このまちはひとがおおいです。 / Kono machi wa hito ga ooi desu.

    This town has many people.

  • 多分、明日は雨が降るでしょう。

    たぶん、あしたはあめがふるでしょう。 / Tabun, ashita wa ame ga furu deshou.

    It will probably rain tomorrow.

  • 日本には多くの寺があります。

    にほんにはおおくのてらがあります。 / Nihon ni wa ooku no tera ga arimasu.

    There are many temples in Japan.

Related Kanji

  • 少

    — 少 means few or little, the direct opposite of 多; the pair 多い and 少ない is one of the first adjective contrasts learners study, and they meet in 多少 (somewhat).

  • 夕

    — 夕 means evening, and 多 is written as two stacked 夕 characters; remembering it as ‘many evenings’ is a popular memory aid.

  • 大

    — 大 means big; learners sometimes mix up 多い (many) and 大きい (big), so contrasting the two early prevents a common mistake.

When Learners Usually See This Kanji

多分 (tabun, probably) may be the single most useful word built with this kanji; you will hear it in almost every conversation. Grammar tip: 多い does not directly modify a noun the way English ‘many’ does; say 人が多い or 多くの人, not 多い人. At restaurants, ご飯多めで (extra rice, please) shows the handy suffix-like use of 多め.

Summary

多 means many or much and appears in the essential adjective 多い and the everyday word 多分, making it a high-frequency kanji from the start.