na-adjective, noun
splendid; admirable; brilliant
Describes something or someone deserving high praise; often used in a slightly old-fashioned or dramatic tone.
彼の演技はあっぱれだった。
His performance was splendid.
あっぱれな成果を上げた。
They achieved admirable results.
interjection
Exclamatory use to praise someone directly; often heard in traditional settings or when giving hearty approval.
あっぱれ！よくやった！
Well done! You did great!
Ateji spelling; used for stylistic effect but uncommon in everyday writing.
Ateji spelling with small-tsu kana; very rare.
Rarely used kanji form; not recommended for learners.
The origin is uncertain, but it may derive from an old exclamation of praise. The kanji 天晴れ are ateji (phonetic equivalents) and do not reflect the word's etymology.