偉い

• Reading: えらい
• Romaji: erai
• Kanji breakdown: 偉 (great, admirable) — single kanji meaning eminent or worthy of praise
• Pronunciation: /e.ra.i/

Meaning

Great job or well done — a compliment praising someone's effort, discipline, or good behaviour.

While the dictionary meaning of 偉い is 'great' or 'eminent,' in casual conversation it functions as a way to praise effort and discipline. Saying 偉い to a friend who wakes up early, cooks their own meals, or keeps exercising is like saying 'good for you!' or 'that's admirable!' It has a warm, encouraging tone. Used extensively between friends and on social media as positive reinforcement.

Examples

1. 朝5時に起きて勉強してるの？偉いね！ You wake up at 5 AM to study? That's amazing!
2. ちゃんと自炊してるんだ、偉い！ You actually cook for yourself? Good for you!
3. 毎日ジョギング続けてるの偉いよ。 Keeping up your daily jog is really admirable.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, social media, family

Tone: encouraging, warm

Do Say

• 休みの日も勉強してるなんて偉いね。 (Studying even on your days off, that's so admirable.)
• 偉い！自分を褒めてあげて。 (Good job! Give yourself some praise.)

Don't Say

• 上司に「偉いですね」は失礼 (Saying 'erai desu ne' to your boss is rude — it positions you as the one evaluating them)

Common Mistakes

• Using 偉い to praise a superior — it sounds condescending because it implies you are in a position to evaluate them
• Confusing the 'great person' meaning with the 'good job' meaning — context makes it clear

Origin & History

The standard meaning of 偉い is 'great/eminent' (偉大). The casual usage as praise for everyday effort evolved naturally as friends started using it to encourage each other for mundane but disciplined actions. This encouraging usage has been common for decades.

Cultural Context

Era: Long-established casual usage

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal informal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. In Kansai, 偉い can also mean 'tough/tiring' — but this 'praise' usage is universal.