優等生(ゆうとうせい)

ゆうとうせい
noun
honor student; model student; overachiever
educationperson
1. honor student; top student
A student who consistently achieves excellent grades and exemplary conduct.
彼女(かのじょ)は優等生(ゆうとうせい)だ。
She is an honor student.
優等生(ゆうとうせい)ばかりのクラスだった。
It was a class full of top students.
小学校(しょうがっこう)のころからずっと優等生(ゆうとうせい)で通(とお)してきた。
She has been known as an honor student ever since elementary school.
2. model (person/thing); exemplary; goody-goody
Used figuratively to describe someone or something that follows all the rules and meets all expectations, sometimes with a slightly negative nuance of being too perfect or predictable.
優等生(ゆうとうせい)な答(こた)えだね。
That's a textbook answer, isn't it.
優等生的(ゆうとうせいてき)な対応(たいおう)では物足(ものた)りない。
A by-the-book response just isn't enough.
あの会社(かいしゃ)は業界(ぎょうかい)の優等生(ゆうとうせい)と言(い)われている。
That company is said to be the model student of the industry.

Literally "excellent grade student." In its figurative use, 優等生(ゆうとうせい) can carry a mildly negative undertone, implying someone (or something) is boringly correct or lacks originality.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 秀才(しゅうさい): genius; gifted student — emphasizes innate talent, not just good grades
  • 模範生(もはんせい): model student — focuses on behavior and conduct rather than academic achievement
  • 真面目(まじめ): serious; diligent — a personality trait, not a label or role

Related Words

Compare: 秀才(しゅうさい) (genius)
Compare: 真面目(まじめ) (serious)
Compare: 成績優秀(せいせきゆうしゅう) (excellent grades)
general
Added 2026.4.29 1:09 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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