偉(えら)い

えらい
i-adjective
great, remarkable; important; terrible
1. great, remarkable, admirable
Worthy of admiration for achievements or status.
彼(かれ)は偉(えら)い学者(がくしゃ)だ。
He is a great scholar.
偉(えら)いね！よく頑張(がんば)ったね。
Good job! You worked hard.
偉(えら)い人(ひと)になりたい。
I want to become a great person.
歴史(れきし)に残(のこ)る偉(えら)い発明家(はつめいか)。
A great inventor who will be remembered in history.
一人(ひとり)で全部(ぜんぶ)やったの？偉(えら)い！
You did it all by yourself? That's amazing!
2. important, high-ranking
Having high social or professional status.
会社(かいしゃ)で偉(えら)い人(ひと)になりたい。
I want to become an important person in the company.
お偉(えら)いさんが来(く)る。
A bigwig is coming.
偉(えら)い立場(たちば)の人(ひと)。
A person in an important position.
偉(えら)くなったものだ。
You've become quite the big shot.
偉(えら)い政治家(せいじか)たち。
Important politicians.
3. terrible, awful (colloquial)
Used to emphasize how bad or difficult something is.
今日(きょう)は偉(えら)く暑(あつ)いね。
It's awfully hot today, isn't it?
Colloquial usage
偉(えら)く疲(つか)れた。
I'm terribly tired.
偉(えら)い目(め)に遭(あ)った。
I had a terrible experience.
偉(えら)いことになった。
Things have gotten bad.
偉(えら)く時間(じかん)がかかった。
It took an awfully long time.

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
core
Added 2026.1.13 9:40 · Revised 2026.2.2 19:30
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