Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 素晴らしい | subarashii | [sɨba̠ɾa̠ɕiː] (narrow) |
| 秀でた | hiideta | |
| 優秀な | yūshū na |
In Japanese, the choice of word for 'excellent' depends on whether you are expressing emotional awe or describing specific abilities. 素晴らしい is frequently used to express emotional awe or admiration for things like scenery, performances or experiences. 優秀な is used specifically to describe human ability, talent or academic and professional performance. 最高 is another way to express something that is excellent or fantastic.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ in their focus and tone. 素晴らしい is used for general excellence or wonder. The form 秀でた is more literary and formal than 素晴らしい and is often used in writing to describe someone who stands out or excels in a specific skill.
How does it change in a sentence?
素晴らしい is an i-adjective, which means it can modify a noun directly or end a sentence. In contrast, 優秀な is a na-adjective, meaning it requires the particle な when modifying a noun.
How do you pronounce it?
subarashii
Did you know?
- The word 素晴らしい originally meant something so overwhelming that it made a person shrink away in fear or awe. It was not until the mid-1800s that the meaning shifted from this sense of intimidation to the positive sense of excellence used today.
- The kanji used for 素晴らしい are an example of ateji, where characters are chosen for their sounds rather than their original meanings. This means the written characters function more as a phonetic guide than a literal description of the word.
Examples in context
- 彼女は優秀な学生だ。She is an excellent student.This sentence shows how to use 優秀な to describe a student.Tatoeba #86456 by bunbuku, translation #317255 by CK
- 彼は優秀な脳外科医だ。He's an excellent brain surgeon.This sentence demonstrates the use of 優秀な in a professional context.Tatoeba #99357 by bunbuku, translation #304339 by CK
- 素晴らしい試合だったよ。That was an excellent game.This sentence provides an example of using 素晴らしい to describe a game.Tatoeba #10876054 by bunbuku, translation #2673099 by orcrist
- そのプレゼンテーションは素晴らしかったですねYour presentation was excellent.
- 彼女は優れたピアニストですShe is an excellent pianist.
- 彼は卓越したリーダーシップ能力を持っていますHe has excellent leadership skills.
- その映画、すごかったよ!That movie was excellent!
- スキーは最高だねSkiing is excellent, isn't it?
- 彼のダンスはめちゃくちゃうまい!He's an excellent dancer!
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiyori and Daishō are eating at a fancy restaurant.
- 陽葵 Himariこの料理、本当に素晴らしいね。Kono ryōri, hontō ni subarashii ne.This food is truly excellent, isn't it?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、味も盛り付けも最高だ。Un, aji mo moritsuke mo saikō da.Yeah, both the taste and presentation are the best.
- 陽葵 Himari素晴らしいお店を見つけたね。Subarashii omise o mitsuketa ne.You found an excellent restaurant.
- 大翔 Hirotoよかった。喜んでくれて嬉しいよ。Yokatta. Yorokonde kurete ureshii yo.I'm glad. I'm happy you like it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “excellent” translations and entries 素晴らしい, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 素晴らしい, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
