偉
偉·great, admirable
- On-yomi
- イ
- Kun-yomi
- えら(い)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 偉大 | いだい | great, grand |
| 偉い | えらい | great, admirable, high-ranking |
| 偉人 | いじん | great person of history |
| 偉業 | いぎょう | great achievement |
Example sentences
彼は偉大な科学者だった。
かれはいだいなかがくしゃだった。
He was a great scientist.
一人で全部片付けたの。偉いね。
ひとりでぜんぶかたづけたの。えらいね。
You tidied it all up by yourself? Good for you.
その登山家は前人未到の偉業を成し遂げた。
そのとざんかはぜんじんみとうのいぎょうをなしとげた。
That climber achieved a feat no one had managed before.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- 偉い also means 'senior, in charge' (偉い人) and colloquially 'awful' (偉い目に遭う)
- Reading 偉大 as えらだい — it is いだい
Memory aid
Picture it
The person radical 亻 beside a tall, elaborate element: a figure who stands out head and shoulders above the crowd.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 偉 mean?