規格外
Meaning: Off the charts — literally outside specifications, someone whose talent exceeds all normal standards.
Borrowed from manufacturing and engineering terminology where 規格外 means a product that doesn't meet standard specifications (usually a defect). Flipped as a compliment, it means someone is so exceptional they break the mould — they can't be measured by ordinary standards. Popular in sports, entertainment, and any context where someone vastly outperforms expectations.
Examples
- あのパフォーマンスは完全に規格外だった。 那场表演完全是超规格的。Esa actuación fue completamente fuera de toda escala.저 퍼포먼스는 완전히 규격 외였어.
- 規格外の才能すぎて比較対象がいない。 超规格的才能到了找不到可以比较的对象。Un talento tan fuera de lo normal que no hay con quién compararlo.규격 외의 재능이라 비교 대상이 없어.
- 身体能力が規格外すぎる。 身体素质超规格到不行。Sus capacidades físicas están fuera de toda medida.신체 능력이 너무 규격 외야.
Pronunciation
/ki.ka.ku.ga.i/
Usage Guide
Context: sports, social media, fan culture, friends
Tone: impressed, amazed
✓ Do Say
- あの選手は規格外だから予測不能。 (That athlete is off the charts — completely unpredictable.)那个选手是超规格的,完全无法预测。(That athlete is off the charts — completely unpredictable.)あの選手は規格外だから予測不能。 (Ese atleta está fuera de toda escala, es completamente impredecible.)저 선수는 규격 외라서 예측 불가야. (That athlete is off the charts — completely unpredictable.)
- 規格外すぎて同じ人間と思えない。 (So far beyond the norm I can't believe they're human.)超规格到让人不敢相信是同一个物种。(So far beyond the norm I can't believe they're human.)規格外すぎて同じ人間と思えない。 (Tan fuera de lo normal que no me creo que sea humano.)너무 규격 외라서 같은 인간이라고 못 믿겠어. (So far beyond the norm I can't believe they're human.)
✗ Don't Say
- 本来の意味(不良品)を知っている人には皮肉に聞こえることがある (People who know the original meaning 'defective product' may hear it as ironic)了解原意(不良品)的人可能会听出讽刺意味(People who know the original meaning 'defective product' may hear it as ironic)本来の意味(不良品)を知っている人には皮肉に聞こえることがある (Quienes conocen el significado original —'producto defectuoso'— pueden interpretarlo como irónico)원래 뜻(불량품)을 아는 사람에게는 비꼬는 것처럼 들릴 수 있다 (People who know the original meaning 'defective product' may hear it as ironic)
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting that 規格外 originally means 'defective/out of spec' — in some contexts the negative meaning can surface
Origin & History
From manufacturing/engineering terminology where 規格外 means 'outside specifications.' The positive inversion — using it to praise someone who exceeds all standards — became popular in sports journalism and fan culture in the 2010s.
Cultural Context
Era: 2010s sports and entertainment culture
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Especially common in sports commentary and talent discussions.
More From This Topic
More from Compliments & Encouragement
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free