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Sugoi (すごい): What Does “Sugoi” Really Mean in Japanese? It’s More Than Just “Amazing” | Beyond the TextbookS

“Sugoi” (すごい) — what does it really mean?

You’ll hear this word everywhere in Japan.

At cafés, on TV, in anime, or walking down the street.
Someone says something, and the other person replies:

すごい！ (Sugoi!)

So — does it mean “amazing”?

Yes.
But also no.

It started as something… scary

Originally, “sugoi” had a pretty dark meaning.

It came from “sugoshi” (凄し), which meant fearsome or terrible.
Like something overwhelming in a bad way.

But over time, that intensity took on a positive spin — and became something more like “incredible.”

Today, “sugoi” means: intense

It’s not just “good.”
It’s not just “bad.”

It’s “a lot.”
It’s “wow.”

すごい雨だったね。
That was some crazy rain.

あの選手、すごいよね。
That athlete is insane (in a good way).

この値段、すごくない？
This price is ridiculous, right?

It can be used sarcastically, too

Tone matters.
Just like in English, “amazing” can be genuine — or totally sarcastic.

へー、また寝坊？すごいね。
Oh wow, late again? Impressive.

Sugoi vs. Yabai

If “sugoi” is all about intensity, then “yabai” is its more modern cousin.
Both can mean “awesome,” “terrible,” or “wild” — depending on the speaker’s tone and context.

Think of “sugoi” as more traditional, and “yabai” as more youthful or casual.

Final tip: Watch the tone, not just the word

With “sugoi,” the feeling comes more from how it’s said than what it means.

Is the speaker wide-eyed?
Laughing?
Rolling their eyes?

That’s where the real meaning is.

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