Translation guide
The English word "extraordinary" describes something remarkable, unusual, or beyond the ordinary. In Japanese, there is no single perfect equivalent; the best choice depends on whether you mean exceptionally good, strange, or simply out of the ordinary.
To describe someone or something as outstanding, amazing, or remarkably excellent.
The most common and versatile word for 'wonderful' or 'splendid'. It conveys strong admiration and is suitable for most situations.
彼女は素晴らしい才能を持っている。
She has extraordinary talent.
Means 'astonishing' or 'miraculous'. Often used for achievements or abilities that are hard to believe.
彼の記憶力は驚異的だ。
His memory is extraordinary.
Literally 'out of the ordinary'. Emphasizes that something exceeds normal standards, often used for talent, effort, or courage.
彼は並外れた努力で成功した。
He succeeded through extraordinary effort.
Means 'off the scale' or 'in a different league'. Used for something exceptionally large or extreme, often in scale or quantity.
そのプロジェクトには桁外れの予算がかかった。
The project required an extraordinary budget.
To describe something that is out of the ordinary, peculiar, or strikingly different.
Means 'abnormal' or 'unusual'. Often used for situations, behavior, or phenomena that deviate from the norm. Can carry a negative nuance.
今日は異常に暑い。
It's extraordinarily hot today.
Means 'uncommon' or 'exceptional'. Often used for people with remarkable qualities, but can also describe things that are not ordinary.
彼は非凡な発想の持ち主だ。
He has extraordinary ideas.
An emphatic, colloquial expression meaning 'outrageous', 'absurd', or 'extraordinary' in a surprising or unbelievable sense. Can be positive or negative depending on context.
Means 'eccentric' or 'novel'. Used for ideas, fashion, or designs that are strikingly unconventional.
彼女の奇抜なファッションは注目を集めた。
Her extraordinary fashion attracted attention.
To emphasize that something is extreme, immense, or far beyond what is usual.
A formal pattern meaning 'extraordinary' or 'uncommon', often used with words like 努力 (effort), 才能 (talent), or 決意 (determination).
彼は並々ならぬ決意で挑んだ。
He took on the challenge with extraordinary determination.
Means 'enormous', 'absurd', or 'extraordinary' in scale. Often used for amounts, distances, or ideas that are hard to grasp.
途方もない金額が動いた。
An extraordinary amount of money changed hands.
素晴らしい is the safest and most common choice for 'extraordinary' in a positive sense. 並外れた emphasizes that something exceeds the norm, often used with effort or ability. 驚異的 is stronger, implying something almost miraculous or astonishing, and is more formal/written.
There is no single Japanese word that covers all uses of 'extraordinary'. Using 異常な for a positive achievement would sound negative (abnormal). Always consider the nuance you want to convey.
彼女は驚異的な回復を見せた。
She made an extraordinary recovery.
それは並外れた経験だった。
It was an extraordinary experience.
とんでもない事件が起きた。
An extraordinary incident occurred.
Similar to 途方もない, meaning 'immense' or 'extraordinary'. Very colloquial and emphatic.
彼はとてつもない才能の持ち主だ。
He is a person of extraordinary talent.