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> アザラシは寒い海にいることが多い動物です。  
>  The アザラシ is an animal that often lives in cold seas.

I'm not entirely sure that 'often' is the right translation here. How does
this sentence differ in meaning/nuance from:

> アザラシは寒い海によくいる動物です。
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-20T19:10:21.970
56075
2021-12-18T23:22:15.580
7944
question
grammar meaning nuances
Difference between よく + verb, and verb + ことが多い
よく and ～V+ことが多い are basically the same meaning. The difference would be
sentence construction.

The following sentences would have the same meaning:

> 秀樹さんは図書館に行くことが多い。Hideki goes to the library often.
>
> 秀樹さんはよく図書館に行きます。Hideki often goes to the library.

&

> アザラシはよく寒い海にいる Seals spend much time in the cold ocean.
>
> アザラシは寒い海にいることが多い Seals spend much time in the cold ocean (are in the cold
> ocean much).

Incidentally, the sentence does not say that seals ‘live’ in cold seas, but
that seals ‘are in (found in)’ cold seas. Also, somewhat of a quibble, but to
say ‘ocean’ instead of ‘sea’ would be more appropriate.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-21T00:34:47.040
56082
2018-01-21T00:34:47.040
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answer
In your specific case, 寒い海にいることが多い and 寒い海によくいる are interchangeable, and they
both mean "to be often seen/found in cold waters." (Note that these sentences
do not mean individual earless seals often migrate from cold waters to other
places.)

In general, ～ことが多い and よく are not always interchangeable. ～ことが多い means:

  1. often; frequently 

>     * 日曜日はテニスをすることが多い。 I often play tennis on Sundays.

  2. there are many things to ～ 

>     * 日曜日はすることが多い。 I have lots of things to do on Sundays.

よく also means several things depending on the context:

  1. often; frequently 

>     * 彼はバナナをよく食べる。 He often eats bananas.
>     * ここでタクシーをよく見る。 I often see taxis here.

  2. well; much; intensively 

>     * 彼はよく食べる。 He is a good eater.
>     * あのタクシーをよく見ろ。 Look at that taxi carefully.

That said, I think よくいる and いることが多い are almost always interchangeable.
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2018-01-21T04:58:19.287
56086
2021-12-18T23:22:15.580
2021-12-18T23:22:15.580
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56075
answer