Translation guide
Expresses performing successfully, thriving, or achieving a good outcome. Japanese uses different expressions depending on whether you mean doing well in a task, on a test, in health, in business, or in life.
To do something successfully or with good results.
General phrase for things going well or turning out successfully. Very common.
プレゼンは上手くいった。
The presentation went well.
計画が上手くいきますように。
I hope the plan goes well.
To do something skillfully or handle a situation well. Emphasizes the person's ability.
彼は仕事をうまくやった。
He did the job well.
To succeed. More formal and result-oriented than 上手くいく.
彼女は試験に成功した。
She succeeded in the exam (did well on the exam).
To get a good score or perform well academically.
Literally 'can do well'. Often used to describe good performance in school subjects.
彼は数学がよくできる。
He does well in math.
テストでよくできた。
I did well on the test.
To have good grades. Describes overall academic performance.
彼は成績がいい。
He does well in school (has good grades).
To be healthy, prosper, or grow well.
To be doing well health-wise. Common in greetings and inquiries.
お元気ですか？ — はい、元気でやっています。
How are you? — I'm doing well, thanks.
Going smoothly, on track. Used for projects, recovery, business.
To grow well (plants, children).
この植物は日陰でもよく育つ。
This plant does well even in the shade.
To achieve financial or social success.
To advance in one's career, get promoted, succeed in the world.
彼は若くして出世した。
He did well for himself at a young age.
To achieve success. More formal.
彼はビジネスで成功を収めた。
He did well in business.
To be skilled or proficient.
To be good at something. Use with a noun or nominalized verb.
彼女は料理が得意だ。
She does well at cooking.
To be skillful at something. Similar to 得意 but can sound more objective.
彼は英語が上手だ。
He does well in English (speaks English well).
Avoid directly translating 'do well' as よくする or よくやる in most contexts. よくやる often means 'do often' rather than 'do well'. Use the expressions above instead.