壮大

そうだい

magnificent, grand, majestic

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"壮大" (そうだい) is a formal adjective used to describe something magnificent, grand, or majestic. It often refers to large-scale scenes, plans, or natural landscapes that impress with their size or beauty.

Common Contexts

You will frequently see "壮大" used in descriptions of movies, nature, architecture, or ambitious projects. It conveys a sense of awe and grandeur.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 壮大なスケール (grand scale): used to emphasize the vastness or impressive size.
  • 壮大な自然 (magnificent nature): highlights the beauty and vastness of natural surroundings.
  • 壮大な計画 (grand plan): refers to ambitious or large-scale plans.

Register and Nuance

"壮大" is typically used in written or formal spoken Japanese rather than casual conversation. It adds a poetic or elevated tone.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse "壮大" with "大きい" (big) or "すごい" (amazing). Remember, "壮大" emphasizes grandeur and majesty, not just size or intensity.

Example Sentences

このえいがはそうだいなスケールでえがかれている。

This movie is depicted on a magnificent scale.

そうだいなしぜんのなかでキャンプをたのしんだ。

I enjoyed camping in the grand nature.

かれのそうだいなけいかくはおおくのひとをおどろかせた。

His grand plan surprised many people.