秀でる|ひいでるhiideru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto excel; to surpass; to be superior; to be better (than others at something)
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be conspicuous (esp. forehead and eyebrows); to be prominent; to stand out
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 秀でる（ひいでる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 秀でます（ひいでます） |
| Negative (nai) | 秀でない（ひいでない） |
| polite (masen) | 秀でません（ひいでません） |
| classical zu / nu | 秀でず・秀でぬ（ひいでず・ひいでぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 秀でた（ひいでた） |
| polite (mashita) | 秀でました（ひいでました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 秀でなかった（ひいでなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 秀でませんでした（ひいでませんでした） |
| Te form | 秀でて（ひいでて） |
| Potential | 秀でられる（ひいでられる） |
| Passive | 秀でられる（ひいでられる） |
| Causative | 秀でさせる（ひいでさせる） |
| Causative passive | 秀でさせられる（ひいでさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 秀でれば（ひいでれば） |
| tara | 秀でたら（ひいでたら） |
| Volitional | 秀でよう（ひいでよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 秀でましょう（ひいでましょう） |
| Imperative | 秀でろ（ひいでろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym優れるすぐれるNeutralEveryday word for being better than average; common in speech. It covers good quality or ability, without 秀でる's nuance of standout, exceptional talent.
- Synonym勝るまさるNeutralWeighs two things and puts one on top, as in 「〜に勝るとも劣らない」. Neutral in register; 秀でる instead highlights talent that stands out in a field.
- Synonym際立つきわだつNeutralStands out through sharp contrast with what is around it, as in 「際立った美しさ」; about conspicuousness, not ranking ability.
- Synonym超越ちょうえつWrittenWritten noun for going far beyond the usual standard or rising to a higher plane; its focus is on exceeding norms, where 秀でる is about excelling in a field.
- Synonym超絶ちょうぜつWrittenWritten word for being far above the rest; also used slangily as an intensifier, as in 「超絶技巧」.
- Synonym飛び抜けるとびぬけるCasualColloquial for being exceptionally good in a way that sets one apart, e.g. standout results.
- Synonym凌駕りょうがWrittenWritten prose: to surpass or outstrip another, often with a commanding, sweeping air. 秀でる centers on outstanding talent rather than on getting ahead of someone.
- Related越えるこえるNeutralFocuses on crossing a boundary or a number passing a limit, so more concrete than 秀でる, which is about excelling in ability.
- Related優越ゆうえつWrittenWritten noun for being in a superior position; mostly met in 「優越感」. 秀でる describes excelling at something, not holding the higher place.
- Related上回るうわまわるNeutralTypically a figure rising above a standard or forecast, as in 「予想を上回る」; it can also mean better than, but numbers are its main focus.
- Related凌ぐしのぐNeutralAlso means to endure or see oneself through hardship; for the 'surpass' sense it is about prevailing over a rival. Neutral register.
- Related突出とっしゅつWrittenWritten noun: a part or figure juts out, or a value stands out sharply; not tied to talent the way 秀でる is.
- Related光るひかるCasualLiterally to shine; figuratively, colloquial for talent that catches the eye. Carries a metaphorical color 秀でる lacks.
- Related傑出けっしゅつWrittenWritten: distinguished achievement, as in 「傑出した人物」; stresses eminence rather than skill in one field.
- Related並外れるなみはずれるWrittenWritten: far beyond the usual level; unlike 秀でる's positive sense, it can be praise or criticism.
- Related抜きん出るぬきんでるWrittenWritten prose for standing out conspicuously from among people; in meaning the closest of this group to 秀でる.
- Related立ち勝るたちまさるWrittenWritten and rarely used: to come out ahead in a comparison. Surviving examples are few; 秀でる is the natural choice for talent.
- Related図抜けるずぬけるCasualColloquial for towering far above everyone around; sits very close to 「ずば抜ける」.
- Related抜き出るぬきでるWrittenWritten but rare; synonymous with 「抜きん出る」 — standing out from the crowd.
- Relatedずば抜けるずばぬけるCasualColloquial and hyperbolic: better than everyone else by a wide margin. The gap it paints is far bigger than 秀でる implies.
- Antonym劣るおとるNeutralThe direct opposite: to be inferior to or fall short of another, against 秀でる's excelling.
- Antonym及ばないおよばないNeutralPhrase for being unable to reach or match someone — the reverse of 秀でる's surpassing the crowd.
Use 「秀でる」 for talent that stands out in a particular field; it belongs to written prose, as in 「語学に秀でる」. For everyday 'better than average' pick 「優れる」, and for being far beyond ordinary people 「ずば抜ける」. 「勝る」 and 「上回る」 serve comparisons and figures; 「抜きん出る」 is the closest written rival; 「劣る」 and 「及ばない」 point the opposite way.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
