すごいね
sugoi ne
In Japanese, "you're amazing" is expressed as すごいね (sugoi ne).
This expression is used to praise someone for their impressive skills or achievements. While primarily a way to say someone is amazing, the word すごい can also describe something overwhelming or extreme in a negative sense, such as something being terrible or huge, depending on the context and tone.
Which one should you use?
The phrase すごいね is the informal version of すごいですね.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form すごいね is informal. For a polite version suitable for speaking to superiors or people you are not close with, use すごいです or すごいですね. In very casual or masculine speech, you may hear the slang version すげえ, which sounds more rough and emphasizes intense shock or awe. Additionally, 素晴らしいです can be used to mean "It is wonderful" or "You are wonderful" in formal situations.
How do you pronounce it?
sugoi ne
Did you know?
- While すごい is positive now, its original meaning was 'terrible' or 'frightening' in the sense of something possessing a daunting, supernatural power.
- Japanese speakers often avoid saying すごい directly to a superior, as praising a boss can inadvertently sound like you are judging their performance from a position of authority.
- In modern conversation, すごい is frequently used as an adverb to mean 'very', similar to how English speakers use 'terribly' or 'awfully' to emphasize a positive trait.
Examples in context
- 君は本当にすごいね。You are really amazing.
- おお！すごい！これはすごい才能だよ。Wow! Amazing! This is incredible talent.
- 一人で全部作ったの？すごいね！Hitori de zenbu tsukutta no? Sugoi ne!You made it all by yourself? You're amazing!
- テストで満点なんて、すごいね。Tesuto de manten nante, sugoi ne.Getting a perfect score on the test, you're amazing.
Example conversation
Himari is praising Ren after he finished a difficult task.
- 陽葵 Himari蓮くん、仕事が早いね。すごいね！Ren-kun, shigoto ga hayai ne. Sugoi ne!Ren, you work fast. You're amazing!
- 蓮 Renありがとう。でも、まだ時間がかかるよ。Arigatou. Demo, mada jikan ga kakaru yo.Thanks. But it's still going to take some time.
- 陽葵 Himari無理しないで、休憩してね。Muri shinaide, kyuukei shite ne.Don't overdo it, please take a break.
- 蓮 Renわかった。陽葵は優しいね。Wakatta. Himari wa yasashii ne.I understand. You are kind, Himari.
