一 杯(いっぱい)

いっぱい

noun, adverb, na-adjective

full; a cup of; a lot

1. full, filled

Completely filled to capacity.

電車(でんしゃ)は人(ひと)で一杯(いっぱい)だった。

The train was full of people.

お腹(なか)一杯(いっぱい)食(た)べた。

I ate until I was full.

駐車場(ちゅうしゃじょう)が一杯(いっぱい)で車(くるま)を止(と)められなかった。

The parking lot was full and I couldn't park.

2. one cup/glass of

A serving of liquid in a cup or glass.

ビールを一杯(いっぱい)ください。

One beer, please.

コーヒーを一杯(いっぱい)飲(の)んだ。

I had a cup of coffee.

仕事(しごと)の後(あと)に一杯(いっぱい)いかがですか。

How about a drink after work?

3. a lot, many

A large quantity or number.

宿題(しゅくだい)が一杯(いっぱい)ある。

I have a lot of homework.

花(はな)が一杯(いっぱい)咲(さ)いている。

Lots of flowers are blooming.

今日(きょう)はやることが一杯(いっぱい)あって、休(やす)む時間(じかん)がない。

I have so much to do today that I don't have time to rest.

一杯(いっぱい) has three distinct meanings that are all commonly used.

FULL:

Xで一杯(いっぱい): full of X (人(ひと)で一杯(いっぱい), 荷物(にもつ)で一杯(いっぱい))
お腹(なか)一杯(いっぱい): stomach is full
手(て)が一杯(いっぱい): to have one's hands full

ONE CUP/GLASS (counter):

コーヒー一杯(いっぱい): one cup of coffee
一杯(いっぱい)いかが？: How about a drink?
一杯(いっぱい)やる: to have a drink (casual, often implies alcohol)

A LOT (adverbial):

一杯(いっぱい)ある: there's a lot
一杯(いっぱい)食(た)べる: to eat a lot

REGISTER:
The 'a lot' meaning is informal and more common in spoken Japanese. In writing, 沢山(たくさん) or 多(おお)くの are preferred.

Related Words

Synonym: たくさん (a lot (standard))

general

Added 2026.1.9 21:04 · Revised 2026.5.17 8:18

01500/01793_ippai