Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Great" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "great", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
偉い
えらい (erai)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
せっかく
せっかく (sekkaku)
B2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "great" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 偉い and せっかく.
In Japanese, 偉い (えらい (erai)) is typically associated with "great, admirable, important, superior" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Used to describe someone as great, admirable, or of high status. Can also be used ironically depending on context. 「偉いね」は、子供や目下の人を褒める時によく使われます。.
On the other hand, せっかく (せっかく (sekkaku)) maps to "with great effort" (Syllabus Level: B2) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR B2 vocabulary syllabus.. A literal translation of "great" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "偉い"
彼は本当に偉い人です。
He is truly a great person.
Bilingual Context for "せっかく"
私はせっかくに興味があります。
I am interested in with great effort.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "彼は本当に ＿＿＿ 人です。" (Meaning: "He is truly a great person.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "偉い" fits here because it means "great, admirable, important, superior" in the context of: "He is truly a great person.". "せっかく" represents "with great effort".