1.
magnanimous; big-hearted; having great personal capacity
Describes a person who has the capacity to lead, tolerate, and handle difficult situations without being petty. Implies large-scale thinking and generosity of spirit.
あの社長は器が大きい。
That company president is magnanimous.
器が大きい人は小さなことで怒らない。
A big-hearted person doesn't get angry over small things.
リーダーには器が大きい人物が求められる。
Leaders are expected to be people of great personal capacity.
Literally "one's vessel is large." 器 (vessel, container) is used metaphorically to mean a person's capacity or caliber. A person with a large 器 can accommodate many people and situations. The opposite, 器が小さい, describes someone who is petty or narrow-minded.
USAGE:
Used as praise, typically for leaders or respected figures. Common in business and political contexts. Can also be used self-deprecatingly: 私は器が小さいから (I don't have the capacity for that).
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 懐が深い — broad-minded; tolerant — emphasizes acceptance and openness
- 度量が大きい — magnanimous — more formal, similar meaning
- 太っ腹 — generous; big-hearted — more colloquial, often about spending money
Related Words
Related:
ふところがふかい