What does “ippai” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “ippai” to mean ‘one cup’ or ‘one glass’ in Japanese. They use it also to mean ‘much’, ‘many’, or ‘a lot’. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain this word in detail based on its kanji expression. And also, I will explain how to use it through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners understand “ippai” more clearly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
Definition and meanings of “ippai”
Let me start with the definition and meanings of “ippai”.
- ippai – いっぱい : an adverb meaning ‘much’, ‘many’, ‘a lot’, or such in Japanese.
Japanese native speakers use this word more often as an adverb. They use this to describe a large amount or number in Japanese. Normally this is written in hiragana, but can be written in kanji too. Interestingly, its kanji expression helps us understand the concept of this word more clearly, so let me explain it in detail.
Ippai in kanji
The kanji expression of “ippai” consists of the following two kanji characters:
- 一 : a kanji character widely used as a numeral meaning ‘one’ in Japanese. This can also be found in other words like “ichiban” and “hitori“.
- 杯 : a kanji character widely used to mean ‘cup’ or ‘glass’ in Japanese. This can also be found in other words like “kanpai“.
These two kanji characters tell us that “ippai” is literally a noun which means ‘one cup’ in Japanese. And actually, it is. Its role as an adverb was derived from the noun which literally means ‘one cup’ in Japanese. Let me explain this noun as follows:
- ippai – 一杯 (いっぱい) : a noun meaning ‘one cup’ or ‘one glass’ in Japanese.
Then, the question naturally arises: how did this noun come to mean ‘much’, ‘many’, or ‘a lot’ in Japanese? Unfortunately I cannot answer this question because the reason is not completely clear, but there is an assumption. Let me explain it.
Change from a noun to an adverb
In the past, Japanese people used “ippai” as a noun to refer to a cup. The function of cups was obviously to contain something to drink. This function, however, was gradually extended. Finally, people started to use cups to measure liquid. The easiest way to measure liquid by a cup is use it as one division of a scale, in other words, fill it with the liquid. In accordance with this extension, the meaning of “ippai” was stretched too. People started to use the word to refer to a cup full of something and to describe a large amount. This is how the noun, “ippai”, came to describe a large amount or number in Japanese.
So far, I’ve explained the definitions and meanings of “ippai” together with its kanji expression. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentences below.
Example #1: how to say “much” in Japanese
kanojo wa okane wo ippai mot te iru – 彼女はお金をいっぱい持っている (かのじょはおかねをいっぱいもっている)
She has much money.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kanojo” to make the subject in the sentence.
- okane – お金 (おかね) : a noun meaning ‘money’ in Japanese.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “okane” to make the object in the sentence.
- mot – 持っ (もっ) : one conjugation of the verb, “motsu”, which means ‘to have’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
- te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form. In the example, this is used after “mot” to make its te form. Verbs need to be changed to their te forms to be connected with “iru”.
- iru – いる : an auxiliary verb used to express the continuity of the action described by its preceding verb. In the example, this is used after “mot te” to express the continuity of its action, ‘to have’.
This is a typical usage of “ippai”. In this example, it works to describe a large amount of money. When we want to say “much” in Japanese, “ippai” is a very good option.
Example #2: another usage of “ippai”
gakkou ni gakusei ga ippai iru – 学校に学生がいっぱいいる (がっこうにがくせいがいっぱいいる)
There are many students at the school.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- gakkou – 学校 (がっこう) : a noun meaning ‘school’ in Japanese.
- ni – に : a case particle used to say where someone or something is. In the example, this is used after “gakkou” to say where the students are.
- gakusei – 学生 (がくせい) : a noun meaning ‘student’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
- ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “gakusei” to make the subject in the sentence.
- iru – いる : a verb meaning ‘to be’ or ‘to present’ in Japanese.
This is another typical usage of “ippai”. In the example, it describes a large number of people. When we want to describe a large amount or number in Japanese, “ippai” is always a very good option regardless of whether a noun is countable or uncountable.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definitions and meanings of “ippai” in detail based on its kanji expression. And also, I’ve explained how to use it through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- ippai – いっぱい : an adverb meaning ‘much’, ‘many’, ‘a lot’, or such in Japanese. This can describe a large amount or number regardless of whether a noun is countable or uncountable.
- ippai – 一杯 (いっぱい) : a noun meaning ‘one cup’ or ‘one glass’ in Japanese. This is the origin of the adverb. In the past, Japanese people started to use “ippai” to mean a cup full of something and to describe a large amount.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.