How to say "Great" in Japanese

When translating "great" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 偉い and 懸隔. 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, 懸隔 (けんかく (kenkaku)) maps to "great disparity; wide difference; gulf; vast gap." (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents Used to emphasize a significant, often problematic or surprising, difference or gap between two things, concepts, or people. It implies a large and often difficult-to-bridge separation.. A literal translation of "great" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!