How to Say ‘Great; admirable’ in Japanese
えらい
えらい
💬 Usage Tip: [えらい] means “admirable/you’re doing great.” It can also mean “high-ranking,” depending on context.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese praise can be subtle; hearing [えらい] for studying after work is like getting a friendly pat on the back.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
えらいえらい
[erai]
admirable; great; impressive (also: high-ranking / important; or "tough" depending on context)
Used often in casual praise (especially to kids/teammates): "Good job" / "You did well". Context can also make it mean "serious/big" or "hard" (e.g., えらい目にあう).
アルバイトと勉強を両立していて、えらいです。
It’s impressive that you balance a part-time job and studying.
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