1.
extraordinary; off the charts; far beyond normal; outrageous
Describes something so extreme that it goes beyond the normal scale or range. Can be used for both positive qualities (extraordinary talent) and negative ones (outrageously expensive).
桁外れの才能だ。
It's extraordinary talent.
あの選手は桁外れに速い。
That athlete is extraordinarily fast.
このレストランは桁外れに高いが、味は最高だ。
This restaurant is outrageously expensive, but the food is superb.
桁外れ describes something so extreme that it falls completely outside the normal range or scale.
USAGE:
- Functions as a な-adjective and as a noun. The literal meaning, 'off the digit column,' comes from the abacus: a number so large that the columns can no longer represent it.
- Can be positive (extraordinarily talented) or negative (outrageously bad), depending on context.
- The な form modifies a noun directly; the に form is used adverbially.
PREDICATE VS. MODIFIER:
- Modifier: 桁外れな才能 (extraordinary talent), 桁外れの金額 (an outrageous sum)
- Adverbial: 桁外れに大きい (extraordinarily large), 桁外れに速い (off-the-charts fast)
- Predicate: その選手のスピードは桁外れだ (that athlete's speed is in another league)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 規格外: out of specification, off-standard (often used for unusual size or quality).
- 破格: exceptional, unprecedented (often used for prices or treatment).
- 並外れ: out of the ordinary (closest synonym; slightly less extreme in feel).