大きな (pre-nominal only)

The pre-nominal form 大きな (paired sister to the regular 大きい), used only before nouns and never as a predicate. Belongs to a small set of irregular adjectives — 大きい/大きな, 小さい/小さな, おかしい/おかしな — where the な-form gives a slightly more fixed, emotive, or poetic feel. 大きな夢 ('a big dream'), 大きな問題 ('a big problem'). Parallel to the regular 大きい部屋 ('a big room'); 大きな is slightly more emotive or lyrical, while 大きい is neutral.