Meaning and Usage
"偉い" (えらい) is an adjective used to describe someone or something as great, admirable, or remarkable. It can refer to a person's status, achievements, or behavior, as well as to emphasize the intensity of something, such as heavy rain.
Common Contexts
- When praising someone's accomplishments or position, e.g., "偉い役職" (important position).
- To compliment someone's effort or independence, especially children, e.g., "偉いね" to mean "well done" or "good job".
- To express something extreme or intense, often in casual speech, e.g., "偉い雨" meaning "heavy rain".
Collocations and Patterns
- 偉い人 (えらいひと): an important or respected person.
- 偉いね: a casual way to praise or encourage someone.
- 偉いことになる: to become a big deal or serious situation.
Register and Nuance
"偉い" is generally informal and used in everyday conversation. It can be polite when used to praise someone, but it is not a formal honorific. Be careful not to confuse it with "偉大" (いだい), which is more formal and literary.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes use "偉い" only to mean "great" in a positive sense, but it can also emphasize severity or intensity, especially in colloquial expressions like "偉い雨" (heavy rain). Understanding context is key.