偉(えら)い

偉(えら)い is an i-adjective with multiple meanings depending on context.

Forms

• Adverb: 偉(えら)く (very, awfully - colloquial)
• Noun form: 偉(えら)さ (greatness)

Meaning 1 - admirable

• 偉(えら)い人(ひと): a great/admirable person
• 偉(えら)いね！: Good job! Well done! (praise)

Meaning 2 - high-ranking

• 偉(えら)い人(ひと): an important/high-ranking person
• お偉(えら)いさん: bigwig, VIP (slightly sarcastic)

Meaning 3 - colloquial intensifier

• 偉(えら)く疲(つか)れた: I'm really tired
• 偉(えら)い目(め)に遭(あ)った: I had a terrible experience

USAGE — WHO YOU CAN PRAISE:

• Praise with 偉(えら)いね points downward — to children, students, or juniors. Said to a boss or a 先生(せんせい) it sounds condescending; use 立派(りっぱ) or すごい there.
• Calling yourself 偉(えら)い sounds boastful. The derived 偉(えら)そう ("acting important, stuck-up") is always critical.

Similar words

• 立派(りっぱ): splendid, admirable in conduct or appearance; more formal, not about rank
• すごい: amazing, impressive; casual, about impact rather than worth
• 偉大(いだい): great in a historic sense, used of major figures and achievements

Regional use

• In 関西(かんさい) and Tōkai speech, 偉(えら)い also means "exhausting, rough," covering ground that standard Japanese gives to 疲(つか)れる or つらい. Learners meet this mainly as 方言(ほうげん).