大勢

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 大勢 is read おおぜい here and means many people.
• Basic usage: It describes a gathering or the size of a group, as in 大勢の人.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Counting things
  • For numerous objects, use an expression such as たくさんの本. Do not use 大勢 directly to count books or bags.
• Context-dependent reading
  • 大勢 is read たいせい when it means the general state of affairs. Distinguish that from おおぜい, the sense about numbers of people used here.