世渡(よわた)り上手(じょうず)

Compounds

世渡(よわた)り (getting along in the world) + 上手(じょうず) (skilled at)

Usage

• Can be admiring: "they know how to get ahead"
• Can be critical: "they're calculating" or "opportunistic"
• Implies knowing when to flatter, compromise, and network

Similar words

• 世渡(よわた)り上手(じょうず) ↔ 不器用(ぶきよう) (socially clumsy)
• 世渡(よわた)り上手(じょうず) ↔ 世渡(よわた)り下手(べた) (poor at social navigation)

Common patterns

~上手(じょうず) pattern (skilled at ~):

• 話(はな)し上手(じょうず) - good at speaking
• 聞(き)き上手(じょうず) - good at listening
• 甘(あま)え上手(じょうず) - good at acting spoiled

Related words

• 要領(ようりょう)がいい - efficient, knows the ropes
• 如才(じょさい)ない - tactful
• 八方美人(はっぽうびじん) - trying to please everyone