要領がいい
ようりょうがいい
expression, i-adjective
resourceful; efficient; savvy; good at handling things
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 要領がいい | 要領がよくない |
| Past | 要領がよかった | 要領がよくなかった |
| て form | 要領がよくて | 要領がよくなくて |
| Adverbial | 要領がよく | — |
| Conditional ば | 要領がよければ | 要領がよくなければ |
| Conditional たら | 要領がよかったら | 要領がよくなかったら |
1.
resourceful; efficient; good at getting things done
Describes someone who is skilled at finding the most efficient way to accomplish tasks, often with minimum effort for maximum results.
彼は要領がいい。
He's good at handling things efficiently.
要領がいいから、短時間で仕事が終わる。
She's so efficient that she finishes work quickly.
要領よくまとめてくれたおかげで、会議が早く終わった。
Thanks to the efficient summary, the meeting ended early.
2.
shrewd; street-smart; good at working the system
Can carry a slightly negative nuance, implying someone who is clever at getting ahead by cutting corners or avoiding hard work.
あの人は要領がいいだけだ。
That person is just good at working the system.
要領がいいやつはいつも楽をしている。
The shrewd ones always have it easy.
真面目にやるより要領がいい人のほうが得をすることがある。
Sometimes the savvy people come out ahead more than the diligent ones.
The nuance depends on context: sense 1 is purely positive (efficient, capable), while sense 2 carries envy or mild criticism (implying someone gets results through cleverness rather than honest effort). The opposite expression is 要領が悪い (clumsy at handling things, inefficient).
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 要領がいい人: a resourceful/savvy person
- 要領よく: efficiently, skillfully (adverbial form)
- 要領が悪い: clumsy; inefficient (antonym)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 器用: dexterous, handy — focuses on skill with hands or tasks
- 如才ない: tactful, smooth — social skill rather than task efficiency
- ずる賢い: cunning — more clearly negative than sense 2