Translation guide
The English word 'ace' has several distinct meanings: a top expert or performer, a playing card, a point in tennis, and more. This guide covers the most common uses for learners.
Describing someone who is highly skilled or the best in their field.
Loanword from English, commonly used in sports, games, and sometimes business to mean a star player or top performer.
彼はチームのエースだ。
He is the ace of the team.
Literally 'master hand,' used for someone with exceptional skill, especially in arts, crafts, or sports.
彼はピアノの名手だ。
He is an ace pianist.
Means 'expert' or 'master,' often used for someone who has reached a high level of proficiency through long practice.
彼は料理の達人だ。
He is an ace cook.
Means 'first-class' or 'top-notch,' used as a noun or adjective to describe someone or something of the highest caliber.
彼は一流のシェフだ。
He is an ace chef.
Referring to the ace card in a deck of cards.
The standard term for the ace card in Japanese card games.
ハートのエースを出した。
I played the ace of hearts.
A serve in tennis that the opponent fails to touch, winning the point.
Used in tennis and similar sports to mean an unreturnable serve.
彼は試合で10本のエースを決めた。
He hit 10 aces in the match.
Getting the ball into the hole with one stroke in golf.
The standard term for a hole-in-one in golf.
彼は8番ホールでホールインワンを達成した。
He aced the 8th hole.
Sometimes used informally in golf to mean a hole-in-one, though 'ホールインワン' is more common.
彼はエースを出した。
He got an ace.
A military pilot who has shot down many enemy aircraft.
Direct loanword combination meaning 'ace pilot.'
彼は第二次世界大戦のエースパイロットだった。
He was an ace pilot in World War II.
Literally 'shoot-down king,' a Japanese term for a fighter ace.
彼は撃墜王として知られている。
He is known as an ace.
To achieve a very high score or do something perfectly.
Literally 'to get full marks,' the most natural way to say you aced a test.
数学のテストで満点を取った。
I aced the math test.
Means 'to do perfectly,' used for tasks or performances.
プレゼンを完璧にやった。
I aced the presentation.
While 'エース' is used for people and cards, it is not used to mean 'acing a test.' Use '満点を取る' instead.
テストでエースを取った。
I got an ace on the test. (unnatural)
A more specific term, literally 'service ace,' used in tennis.
サービスエースでポイントを取った。
He won the point with a service ace.