Have you ever wondered what the word subarashii [素晴らしい] really means in Japanese? In this article, we will conduct a complete analysis of this word and understand its meanings, memes, etymology, history, phrases, synonyms, inflections, uses, and more.
The word subarashii can mean "wonderful; splendid; supreme; great; incredible; excellent; glorious; fantastic; magnificent; admirable". Depending on the situation, it can also mean something like impressive, not bad, or cool.
It is an i-adjective [い] that is composed of the kanji [素] which means elementary, principle, bare and uncovered, along with the ideogram [晴] which means clear. What on earth do these ideograms have to do with the word?
Various characters, especially some villains, often use this word at some point when they succeed in their schemes. One of the antagonists of Dragon Ball Super, Goku Black, often uses this word several times.
Table of Content
Etymology and origin of subarashii
The word subarashii is originally derived from the verb subaru [窄る] which means to shrink or decrease. The word is formed by the combination of shii [しい] which is an adjective suffix. This adjective literally describes "that which makes a person shrink."
The initial meaning of the word was strongly negative (something like extreme and terrible), and this usage continued until the mid-1800s in the Período Edo, since when the meaning changed to a strong positive. Something similar happened in English with the word terrific.
The spelling of the kanji is an example of ateji [当て字], a word written with certain ideograms, but which currently has absolutely no relation to the meaning of the word or to the original word [窄る].
Synonyms and related
Sugoi [すごい] also means something like amazing, great, wonderful, magnificent. The word suck it is mostly used to tell your friend or people close to you and also used to be used with exclamation. Already subarashii it is more formal and complete.
Another similar adjective is suteki [素敵] which means "charming; wonderful; pleasant; great; fantastic; excellent; nice". The word also has an alternative form of writing [素晴しい], still has the [ら], but it's in the reading of the kanji.
We recommend also reading the articles that talk about the word omoshiroi which means fun, interesting, and fascinating. Also the words ureshii and tanoshii which mean something fun, cheerful, and happy. Quite common and similar adjectives.
Some words opposite to subarashii are hidoi [ひどい] which means cruel; severe; unfair; kitanai [きたない] which means dirty; filthy; iyashii [いやしい] which means vulgar; coarse; rude; minikui [みにくい] which means ugly; unattractive; indecent.
Inflection and Conjugation
The adverb of the adjective subarashii is subarashiku [素晴らしく] which means something like wonderfully; splendidly; magnificently. Below we will leave the possible inflections of the word subarashii for you to examine:
Responsive Table: Scroll the table to the side with your finger >>
| Inflection | Japanese | Romaji |
| Imperfect (未然形) | 素晴らしかろ | subarashikaro |
| I continue (連用形) | 素晴らしく | subarashiku |
| Terminal (終止形) | 素晴らしい | subarashii |
| Attributive (連体形) | 素晴らしい | subarashii |
| Hypothetical (仮定形) | 素晴らしけれ | subarashikere |
| Imperative (命令形) | 素晴らしかれ | subarashikare |
| Informal negative | 素晴らしくない | subarashiku nai |
| Informal past | 素晴らしかった | subarashikatta |
| Past negative informal | 素晴らしくなかった | subarashiku nakatta |
| Formal | 素晴らしいです | subarashii desu |
| Formal negative | 素晴らしくないです | subarashiku nai desu |
| Formal past | 素晴らしかったです | subarashikatta desu |
| Past negative formal | 素晴らしくなかったです | subarashiku nakatta desu |
| connective | 素晴らしくて | subarashikute |
| Conditional | 素晴らしければ | subarashikereba |
| Provisional | 素晴らしかったら | subarashikattara |
| Volitional | 素晴らしかろう | subarashikarō |
| Adverbial | 素晴らしく | subarashiku |
| Grade | 素晴らしさ | subarashisa |
Example Sentences of Subarashii
あなたの成績はすばらしいです Anata no seiseki wa subarashīdesu Your grades are amazing
あれは素晴らしい作品ですね Are wa subarashī sakuhindesu ne This is wonderful work
要するに、そのパーティーはすばらしかった。 Yōsuruni, sono pātī wa subarashikatta. In short, the party was great.
本当に素晴らしいですね。 Hontōni subarashīdesu ne. It's really wonderful.
富士山がすばらしい眺めだった。 Fujisan ga subarashī nagamedatta. Mount Fuji had a wonderful view.
彼女は素晴らしい女性だ Kanojo wa subarashī joseida She is a wonderful woman
彼はとてもすばらしいテニス選手です。 Kare wa totemo subarashī tenisu senshudesu. He is a very good tennis player.
すばらしい話をふたつ紹介します Subarashī hanashi o futatsu shōkai shimasu I can tell you two great stories.