72085
When I asked a Japanese about the difference between 並々ならぬ and 並外れた, he gave
me a couple of examples how he uses the words:

  * 並々ならぬ身体能力（✕） 並はずれた身体能力（〇）
  * 並々ならぬお世話 （〇） 並はずれたお世話 （✕）

I also consulted the dictionary, but it didn't provide much information about
how to distinguish the two. Could you tell me how to use the two words wisely?
and when they are not interchangeable?
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-25T05:22:34.510
72078
2019-09-25T11:43:53.093
31630
question
word-choice word-usage
Word choice between 並々ならぬ and 並外れた
並外れた is used to describe someone's talent/ability/beauty/enthusiasm/etc that
is _truly and objectively_ exceptional and extraordinary.

並々ならぬ describes something that is much better or bigger than
average/necessary. It's also a word commonly used to flatter someone in formal
greetings, as in your example. You can use 並々ならぬ身体能力, 並々ならぬ努力 or 並々ならぬ才能 to
praise someone, but we don't use it to describe a true genius.

Examples:

  * イチローの並外れた才能: OK
  * イチローの並々ならぬ才能: a little odd because he is truly exceptional
  * 彼女は並外れた努力を重ねてきた: OK (she is truly exceptional)
  * 彼女は並々ならぬ努力を重ねてきた: OK
  * 彼は並外れた愛情を娘に注いできた: sounds a bit pathological
  * 彼は並々ならぬ愛情を娘に注いできた: OK
  * 私は政治に並外れた興味を持っています: NG (how can you prove it?)
  * 私は政治に並々ならぬ興味を持っています: OK
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-25T11:43:53.093
72085
2019-09-25T11:43:53.093
5010
72078
answer