Meaning and Usage
"大勢" (おおぜい) means "a great number of people" and is commonly used to describe crowds or groups. It emphasizes the quantity of people rather than individuals.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "大勢" when talking about events, gatherings, or places where many people are present, such as parties, stations, or festivals.
Collocations and Patterns
- 大勢の人 (おおぜいのひと): a large number of people
- 大勢で (おおぜいで): with many people, in a large group
- 大勢来る (おおぜいくる): many people come
Register and Nuance
"大勢" is neutral and can be used in both casual and formal contexts. It is not used for small groups but specifically for large crowds.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "大勢" with "人数" (にんずう), which means "number of people" but is more neutral and used for counting. "大勢" implies a visibly large crowd and is more natural when emphasizing the size of the group.