1.
numerous; vast; immense
describes an extremely large number or amount of something; so many as to be overwhelming
夥しい数の星が見えた。
A vast number of stars were visible.
事故現場には夥しい量の血があった。
There was an immense amount of blood at the accident scene.
図書館には夥しい蔵書がある。
The library has a vast collection of books.
夥しい describes an overwhelmingly large quantity.
USAGE PATTERNS:
- 夥しい数の～ (a vast number of ~)
- 夥しい量の～ (an immense amount of ~)
- 夥しい被害 (enormous damage)
NUANCE:
- Literary and formal in tone
- Emphasizes quantity that is beyond normal expectations
- Often used in dramatic or emphatic contexts
- Can describe both positive (stars, books) and negative (blood, casualties) quantities
RELATED TERMS:
- 膨大 (enormous, vast)
- 莫大 (enormous - often for money/cost)
- 無数 (countless)
- たくさん (many - casual)
KANJI NOTE:
The kanji 夥しい is relatively uncommon; the word is often written in hiragana.
REGISTER: Formal/literary. Common in written Japanese and news.