大変
たいへん
JLPT N5 · vocab_adj_na
Meaning
terrible, awful; very (adv.)
Examples

大変な一日でした。

It was a terrible day.

Related Kanji

📖 How to Use

「大変」is an adjective meaning "terrible, awful; very (adv.)." It directly precedes the noun it modifies. Know whether it's an い-adj or な-adj.

⚠️ Teacher's Note — Common Mistakes

「大変」is read as「たいへん」— memorize it as a pair to avoid mistakes in もんだい1.

🎯 JLPT N5 — How It's Tested

もんだい1 & もんだい2

Adjectives like 「大変」appear in both vocabulary and grammar sections.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 「大変」mean in Japanese?+
「大変」means "terrible, awful; very (adv.)". It is a JLPT N5 vocabulary word in the "vocab_adj_na" category.
How do you read 「大変」?+
「大変」is read as「たいへん」.
Is 「大変」on the JLPT N5?+
Yes, 「大変」is an official JLPT N5 word. Mastering all N5 vocabulary (~800 words) is essential for passing.
Can you give an example sentence using 「大変」?+
大変な一日でした。 — It was a terrible day.

Practice 「大変」 with spaced repetition