13 Jun, 2018
Location
Japan
Number of Posts
132
こんにちは。
So can someone explain how to differentiate the meaning of すごい?
凄い this kanji would indicate the negative meaning, so is it just that, Hiragana means terrific and with kanji terrible?
Individualism is overrated.
Site Administrator
21 Jul, 2012
Location
Sydney, Australia
Number of Posts
341
It's really from the context that you can tell. The meaning for it can be summarised as just "extremely", but it is used in those two contexts. I think the kanji for すごい is rarely used.
If I look in a Japanese dictionary, there is two basic meanings for it:
1) Used to describe something that is so scary or creepy that you will shiver
Example:
すごい・目・で・にらむ
To glare with extremely creepy eyes
2) Something that is surprisingly excessive or rare. Extreme.
Examples
すごい・人気
Unusually popular
すごい・プレー
Wonderful Play
すごい・秀才
Rare prodigy
すごい・散らかりよう
To appear excessively disordered
13 Jun, 2018
Location
Japan
Number of Posts
132
そうですか。ありがとうございます。
It's another example where trying to translate just doesn't work. Till now I only heard it in the positive sense, in cases where it's basically a stronger expression but akin to いいです, so I was confused when I looked it up and the dictionary came up with these two meanings, along with that 凄 kanji.
Individualism is overrated.
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