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For over a decade of speaking (poorly) and listening to Japanese, it seems to
me that I have almost exclusively heard the word `えらい` in the sense of meaning
"admirable".

For example, I'd mention volunteering in Tohoku, and someone might say `えらいね`
to say "hey, good on you," or something like that. I swear this kind of use of
`えらい` was the only one I was aware of for years.

Then, recently, I'm reading [Tintin](http://www.tintin.co.jp/index2.html) and
I come across this panel:

![Tintin saying えらい](https://i.stack.imgur.com/VOuSY.jpg)

> **Tintin:** えらいときに 来あわせちゃった ([I] happened to arrive at a really bad time!)

The context is that he's just arrived in a town where there is a war brewing
between some local factions, and people are being conscripted for the army.
Tintin fears getting forced into service. A bad time to show up indeed.

That use of `えらい` didn't match my expectations, so I [looked it up in a
dictionary](http://www.jisho.org/words?jap=%E3%81%88%E3%82%89%E3%81%84&eng=&dict=edict),
and to my surprise, `えらい` does indeed mean "terrible", as well as "admirable"
and "excellent".

So... questions abound:

Is this use of `えらい` rare or limited in some way so that the usage that I am
familiar is the dominant use? Or is it me who just happens to not have been
exposed to the whole spectrum of meanings?

It seems from the dictionary that when used in the positive light there are
two kanji, `偉い` and `豪い`. I'm guessing the second kanji is more rare, but is
there a difference in use or meaning?

Lastly, if the sentence `「えらいときに来あわせちゃった」` were taken out of context and
presented completely on its own, is there any way of knowing whether the
positive or negative meaning of `えらい` was intended?
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2011-08-26T06:41:33.063
2877
2017-04-10T03:51:36.187
2017-02-27T12:39:55.660
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question
word-choice meaning words usage definitions
Does 「えらい 」also mean "terrible"?
This usage of えらい has always struck me to be kind of ironic or sarcastic. Not
so much like the change in meaning of "awesome" or "terrific", but more like
"Oh, it looks like I came at a _great_ time - I'm in for it now!" As such, I
think there would be loads of examples where it would be impossible to know,
without context, whether the meaning is positive or negative.
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2011-08-26T07:13:26.390
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2011-08-26T07:13:26.390
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answer
> Or is it me who just happens to not have been exposed to the whole spectrum
> of meanings?

This is the good answer I think. It's quite common, and as far as I'm
concerned, I think I learnt the "terrible" meaning first :)

> 偉い and 豪い.

A quick look at compound words with the first kanji give: excellent deed,
magnificent, great man… and the second: flood devastation, luxurious, wealthy
family, tremendous snowfall…

It seems that the first kanji has only positive compounds (at least, when in
first position), and I have encountered it very often. I have never seen the
second one _alone_ , always in compound words.

> Lastly, if the sentence 「えらいときに来あわせちゃった」 were taken out of context and
> presented completely on its own, is there any way of knowing whether the
> positive or negative meaning of えらい was intended?

Negative, definitely. Look: "ちゃった" says it all. I guess that えらい is a bit like
the English pair "terrible/terrific" which in French happens to be a single
word too "terrible". It can be ambiguous, but in sentences like
"えらい失礼をし(ちゃっ)た", it's crystal clear…
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2011-08-26T07:39:14.970
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2011-08-26T07:39:14.970
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answer
1) The "negative usage" you mention is Kansai dialect. That is why you did not
see it. It does not actually mean negative thing by itself. It means 'huge' or
'very', and the negative part is usually implied or is omitted. It is
interchangable with `大変(な)`.

> えらいことしてもうた  
> 'I caused a huge issue'.
>
> えらいすんません。  
> 'I am very sorry'.

2) `偉い` is normal. I haven't seen the other kanji used in ordinary life.

3) The positive meaning you were falimiar with is predicated of an animate
thing. The "negative meaning", or the 'very' meaning is predicated of things
like events, times, situations. In `えらいとき`, `とき` is clearly the latter, so you
can tell it is the negative sense.
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2011-08-26T08:20:11.747
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2011-08-26T08:25:56.890
2011-08-26T08:25:56.890
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answer
Instead of literal translation try for an equivocal/equasive translation.

Erai, I would equate to the English "god damn," or "goddamned."
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2017-02-27T11:25:12.140
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answer