世渡(よわた)り上手(じょうず)

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

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

NUANCE:

  • 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

CONTRAST:

  • 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)

PATTERN:

~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:

  • 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
general
Added 2026.1.27 17:12
08000/08496_yowatarijouzu