Meaning and Usage
"凄い" (すごい) is a versatile adjective used to express something impressive, intense, or extraordinary. It can mean "amazing," "terrific," "incredible," or even "terrifying" depending on context.
Common Contexts
It is often used to praise skills, describe extreme weather or situations, and emphasize the degree or intensity of something.
Collocations and Patterns
- 凄い + noun (e.g., 凄い雨): emphasizes the intensity or scale.
- 凄い + verb (e.g., 凄い速さで走る): highlights an extraordinary action.
- 凄いですね／凄かった: common expressions to show admiration or surprise.
Register and Nuance
"凄い" is informal to neutral and widely used in everyday conversation. It can express positive admiration or sometimes a sense of shock or fear.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "凄い" with "すばらしい" (wonderful). While both express positive feelings, "凄い" often emphasizes intensity or scale, not just quality. Use "凄い" when you want to highlight how strong or extreme something is.