Meaning and Usage
"上手" (じょうず) means "skillful" or "good at" something. It is used to describe someone's ability or proficiency in a particular activity or skill. This word is polite and commonly used in everyday conversation.
Common Collocations
- 上手に (じょうずに): skillfully, well — used to describe how an action is performed.
- ～が上手 (～がじょうず): good at ~ — used to indicate the skill in a specific activity.
Usage Notes
When you say someone is "上手," you are complimenting their skill. It is often used with verbs or nouns indicating activities, such as "ピアノが上手" (good at piano) or "話すのが上手" (good at speaking).
Avoid confusing "上手" with "得意" (とくい), which also means good at something but often implies a stronger personal strength or specialty. "上手" is more neutral and polite.
Example Patterns
- 彼はサッカーが上手です。 (He is good at soccer.)
- 料理が上手にできます。 (Can cook skillfully.)
- 日本語を話すのが上手になりたい。 (Want to become good at speaking Japanese.)