also: うでがよい
腕がいい · i-adjective (yoi/ii class)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 腕がいい | 腕がよくない |
| Polite | 腕がいいです | 腕がよくないですalso 腕がよくありません |
| Past polite | 腕がよかったです | 腕がよくなかったですalso 腕がよくありませんでした |
| Past | 腕がよかった | 腕がよくなかった |
| Te-form | 腕がよくて | 腕がよくなくて |
| Adverbial | 腕がよく | |
| Conditional | 腕がよければ | 腕がよくなければ |
| Tara conditional | 腕がよかったら | 腕がよくなかったら |
expression, i-adjective (yoi/ii class)
skilled; skillful; competent; good at something
Describes a person who is highly capable or talented in a particular skill, craft, or profession. Often used in the form 腕がいい to mean 'has good skills'.
Antonyms: 腕が悪い
He is a really skilled chef.
That carpenter is so skilled that he always has work.
巧み is a more literary adjective for dexterous or clever skill, whereas 腕がいい is the everyday phrase used to praise a craftsman's or professional's ability.
unskilled; incompetent; poor at something
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling.
Alternative spelling using the kanji 良い; often read うでがよい.
Kana spelling of 良い; read うでがよい.
From 腕 (うで, 'arm', metaphorically 'skill') + が + いい ('good'). The metaphorical use of 腕 for skill is common in Japanese.