三大(さんだい)

さんだい
prefix
the three major; the three great
quantity
1. the three major ~; the three great ~
A prefix attached to a noun to name the three most important, famous, or representative members of a category, as in 世界三大(せかいさんだい)料理(りょうり) (the world's three great cuisines).
日本(にほん)三大(さんだい)祭(まつ)り
the three great festivals of Japan
世界(せかい)三大(さんだい)料理(りょうり)とは何(なに)か知(し)っていますか。
Do you know what the world's three great cuisines are?
この滝(たき)は日本(にほん)三大(さんだい)瀑布(ばくふ)の一(ひと)つに数(かぞ)えられている。
This waterfall is counted among Japan's three great waterfalls.

Formed from 三(さん) (three) + 大(だい) (great). Attaches directly to a noun, often preceded by a scope word such as 世界(せかい) (world) or 日本(にほん) (Japan).

Common collocations

  • 世界(せかい)三大(さんだい)~: the world's three great ~
  • 日本(にほん)三大(さんだい)~: Japan's three great ~
  • 三大(さんだい)都市(とし): the three major cities

Usage

The same pattern extends to other numbers, such as 四大(よんだい) (the four major) and 五大(ごだい) (the five major).

general
Added 2026.6.21 3:18 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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