器用貧乏(きようびんぼう)

きようびんぼう
noun
jack of all trades, master of none
personalityidiom
1. jack of all trades, master of none
Being good at many things and so never excelling at, or profiting from, any one of them; also a person like that.
彼(かれ)は器用貧乏(きようびんぼう)だ。
He's a jack of all trades and master of none.
何(なん)でもできるが、器用貧乏(きようびんぼう)で終(お)わりたくない。
I can do anything, but I don't want to end up a jack of all trades.
器用貧乏(きようびんぼう)にならないように、一(ひと)つの分野(ぶんや)を深(ふか)く学(まな)ぶことにした。
So as not to end up a jack of all trades, I decided to study one field in depth.

器用(きよう) (skillful) + 貧乏(びんぼう) (poor): so handy at everything that you end up with nothing to show for it. Usually self-deprecating or mildly critical.

Common patterns

  • 器用貧乏(きようびんぼう)だ / 器用貧乏(きようびんぼう)な人(ひと)
  • 器用貧乏(きようびんぼう)になる / 器用貧乏(きようびんぼう)で終(お)わる

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 多才(たさい) (versatile, many-talented)
general
Added 2026.9.30 6:27 · Revised 2026.9.30 6:30
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