腕(うで)を磨(みが)く

うでをみがく
expression, verb phrase
to hone one's skills; to improve one's abilities; to polish one's craft
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present腕(うで)を磨(みが)く腕(うで)を磨(みが)かない
Present polite腕(うで)を磨(みが)きます腕(うで)を磨(みが)きません
Past腕(うで)を磨(みが)いた腕(うで)を磨(みが)かなかった
Past polite腕(うで)を磨(みが)きました腕(うで)を磨(みが)きませんでした
て form腕(うで)を磨(みが)いて腕(うで)を磨(みが)かなくて
ている present腕(うで)を磨(みが)いている腕(うで)を磨(みが)いていない
ている polite腕(うで)を磨(みが)いています腕(うで)を磨(みが)いていません
ている past腕(うで)を磨(みが)いていた腕(うで)を磨(みが)いていなかった
ている past polite腕(うで)を磨(みが)いていました腕(うで)を磨(みが)いていませんでした
Conditional ば腕(うで)を磨(みが)けば腕(うで)を磨(みが)かなければ
Conditional たら腕(うで)を磨(みが)いたら腕(うで)を磨(みが)かなかったら
Volitional腕(うで)を磨(みが)こう—
Volitional polite腕(うで)を磨(みが)きましょう—
Potential腕(うで)を磨(みが)ける腕(うで)を磨(みが)けない
Passive腕(うで)を磨(みが)かれる腕(うで)を磨(みが)かれない
Causative腕(うで)を磨(みが)かせる腕(うで)を磨(みが)かせない
Imperative腕(うで)を磨(みが)け腕(うで)を磨(みが)くな
1. to hone one's skills; to improve one's abilities; to polish one's craft
To work on improving one's skills or abilities through practice and effort. Implies dedicated, ongoing effort to become better at something.
毎日(まいにち)練習(れんしゅう)して腕(うで)を磨(みが)いている。
I practice every day to hone my skills.
料理(りょうり)の腕(うで)をもっと磨(みが)きたい。
I want to improve my cooking skills more.
海外(かいがい)で腕(うで)を磨(みが)いてきたシェフだ。
He's a chef who honed his skills overseas.

IDIOM STRUCTURE:
腕(うで) (arm; skill) + を + 磨(みが)く (to polish)

腕(うで) here means skill/ability. 磨(みが)く (to polish) creates the metaphor of polishing or refining a skill like one would polish a gem or blade.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 料理(りょうり)の腕(うで)を磨(みが)く - to improve cooking skills
  • 語学(ごがく)の腕(うで)を磨(みが)く - to improve language skills
  • 技術(ぎじゅつ)の腕(うで)を磨(みが)く - to hone technical skills
  • 日々(ひび)腕(うで)を磨(みが)く - to polish skills day by day

NUANCE:

Implies:

  • Deliberate effort to improve
  • Ongoing process, not one-time action
  • Recognition that one can always get better
  • Dedication and commitment to improvement

SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:

  • 技(わざ)を磨(みが)く - to polish one's technique
  • 実力(じつりょく)を付(つ)ける - to build up ability
  • スキルアップ(すきるあっぷ)する - to skill up (modern)
  • 研鑽(けんさん)を積(つ)む - to accumulate training (formal)

RELATED EXPRESSION:
腕(うで)を振(ふ)るう - to show one's skill (complementary - first you polish, then you show)

Related Words

Related: 腕(うで)を振(ふ)るう (to show skill)
general
Added 2026.1.19 22:50 · Revised 2026.4.10 17:28
07000/07453_udewomigaku