大都会(だいとかい)

大都会(だいとかい) means a large metropolis — not just any city, but a major metropolitan area with millions of people and extensive infrastructure.

WORD FORMATION:
大 (great, big) + 都会(とかい) (city, urban area).

USAGE:
Typically refers to cities like 東京(とうきょう), 大阪(おおさか), 名古屋(なごや), ニューヨーク, ロンドン, etc. Carries a sense of excitement, opportunity, and sometimes overwhelm.

SIMILAR WORDS:

• 都会(とかい): city, urban area (general)
• 都市(とし): city (more formal/administrative)
• 大都市(だいとし): large city (more formal equivalent of 大都会(だいとかい))
• 首都(しゅと): capital city

CONTRAST:

• 大都会(だいとかい): big city (subjective, experiential)
• 田舎(いなか): countryside, rural area
• 郊外(こうがい): suburbs