(よわた)(じょうず)

よわたりじょうず
noun, na-adjective
socially adept; street-smart
personalitysociety
1. socially adept; street-smart; good at getting along in life
skilled at navigating social situations and advancing in life through interpersonal savvy
(かれ)世渡(よわた)上手(じょうず)だ。
He's street-smart.
世渡(よわた)上手(じょうず)(ひと)出世(しゅっせ)しやすい。
Socially savvy people tend to advance in their careers.
不器用(ぶきよう)(わたし)世渡(よわた)上手(じょうず)はなれない。
I'm too clumsy to ever be socially adept.

Compounds

世渡(よわた) (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

Common patterns

~上手(じょうず) pattern (skilled at ~):

Related words