also: じょうて · じょうしゅ
skillful; good at; proficient
Describes a person's ability or the quality of a performance. Often used with が or に to indicate what someone is good at. Antonym: 下手 (へた).
Antonyms: 下手 (へた)
He is good at cooking.
I want to become proficient in Japanese.
Rare noun use meaning flattery or a flattering remark. Often appears in set phrases like お上手を言う.
That's flattery, isn't it?
He is good at playing the piano.
He is always saying flattering things.
I want to become good at Japanese.
He cooks food skillfully.
上手 is the common, general word for being skilled at something, while 八丁 is a much more limited, idiomatic term seen mainly in set phrases like 口八丁手八丁.
上手 is a general word for being good at something, while 器用 specifically highlights manual dexterity or clever handling.
よく describes doing something in a good or proper way, while 上手 is a na-adjective meaning skillful, often combined with に to form a similar adverbial phrase.
上手 is a na-adjective meaning 'skillful' that sounds more formal and objective, while うまい is casual and can also describe taste or luck.
腕がいい specifically praises technical skill in a craft or trade, while 上手 is a more general adjective for being good at almost anything, including hobbies or casual activities.
上手 is the common modern word for being good at something, while 達者 in this sense sounds slightly old-fashioned or literary.
上手 is the everyday, common word for being good at something, while 巧者 is a more written, evaluative word that often implies clever or tactical handling.
上手 is the common everyday word for being skillful or good at something, while 巧 is a formal, literary noun for skillfulness itself.
上手 is an adjective describing that someone is good at something, while 巧拙 is a noun naming the abstract scale of skill from good to bad.
上手 is a general term for being good at something, while 手際良く specifically describes efficient, well-organized execution.
上手 means 'skillful' and is the direct opposite of 拙い in its sense of being unskillful or clumsy.
上手 is the everyday word for being good at something, contrasting with the critical tone of 稚拙 meaning unskillful.
good in bed; skilled lover
skilled in battle; battlewise; experienced warrior
good at socializing; sociable; a good mixer
worldly-wise; skilled at navigating life; knowing how to get on in the world
person who is a cut above the rest; outstanding person
good at selling; shrewd salesman
good at business; shrewd in business
good at cooking; good cook
Kana spelling is common in informal writing and for learners.
Obsolete kana usage; not used in modern Japanese.
Obsolete kana usage; not used in modern Japanese.