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 2026.4.5 16:10
01500/01793_ippai