上 手(じょうず)

じょうず

adjective (na-adjective), noun

skillful, good at

1. skillful, good at

Describes someone who has a high level of skill or ability in something. Often used to compliment someone's ability in language, sports, cooking, etc.

日本語(にほんご)が上手(じょうず)ですね。

You're good at Japanese!

Common compliment to language learners

彼(かれ)は歌(うた)が上手(じょうず)です。

He's good at singing.

上手(じょうず)に話(はな)せるようになりたい。

I want to be able to speak well.

Using 上手に as an adverb

友達(ともだち)はピアノが上手(じょうず)なので、よく音楽会(おんがくかい)で演奏(えんそう)しています。

My friend is good at piano, so they often perform at concerts.

料理(りょうり)が上手(じょうず)になりたいので、毎週(まいしゅう)料理(りょうり)教室(きょうしつ)に通(かよ)って、いろいろな料理(りょうり)を習(なら)っています。

I want to become good at cooking, so I go to cooking class every week and learn various dishes.

上手(じょうず) is a na-adjective meaning skillful or good at something.

GRAMMATICAL FORMS:

Predicative: ～が上手(じょうず)です (to be good at ~)
Attributive: 上手(じょうず)な + noun (上手(じょうず)な運転(うんてん), skillful driving)
Adverbial: 上手(じょうず)に + verb (上手(じょうず)に話(はな)す, to speak well)
Noun form: 上手(じょうず)さ (skillfulness)

KEY PATTERN:

～が上手(じょうず)です: "good at ~"

日本語(にほんご)が上手(じょうず)です (good at Japanese)
歌(うた)が上手(じょうず)です (good at singing)

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

上手(じょうず)になる: to become good at
上手(じょうず)く行(い)く (上手(うま)く行(い)く is more common): to go well
聞(き)き上手(じょうず): good listener
話(はなし)上手(じょうず): good talker

下手(へた): unskillful, bad at (opposite)
上手(うま)い: skillful, good at (more casual/colloquial)
得意(とくい): strong point, specialty

core

Added 2026.1.7 21:51 · Revised 2026.2.17 10:54

00500/00707_jouzu