大きな

/opoki/ → /oɸoki/ → /oɸoki na/ → /owoki na/ → /oːki na/

Appears starting from the Muromachi period. Derived as the -na adjective construction of -i adjective 大きい (ōkii, “big, great”). See that entry for further details.

大きな (hiragana おおきな, rōmaji ōkina, historical hiragana おほきな)

1. big, large

This term may only be used to directly modify a noun. In this grammatical role, it may be used largely interchangeably with 大きい (ōkii), the -i adjective form. In predicative use, only 大きい (ōkii) may be used: あれは*大きだ (are wa *ōki da) is incorrect grammar. Also, there is no adverbial form *大きに (*ōki ni), only the regular -ku adverbial form 大きく (ōkiku) of the -i adjective 大きい (ōkii).

See 大 (おお)きい (ōkii) for more on the difference between that word and 大 (おお)きな (ōkina).

• 小 (ちい)さな (chīsana): little, small

• 大 (おお)きい (ōkii): (adjective) big, large