2
上手

Good At


Meaning

Good At, Skillful, Skilled At, Skilled

Word Type

noun, な adjective

Explanation

Think of someone holding out their hand. This is average. Things rated below the hand are things you're bad at. Things rated above the hand are things you're good at.


Reading

じょうず

Explanation

Both of these kanji use on'yomi readings, though 手 uses an on'yomi reading you didn't learn with the kanji. It's a rare reading, so it wasn't included (and we just have to deal with exceptions like this as we go along). To remember the reading for this word, here's a mnemonic: What are you good at? You're really good at taking Joe (じょう) to the zoo (ず). No one else can take Joe to the zoo—he gets mad and throws them into the animal enclosures. But you? Joe trusts you.


Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 上手な人

    a talented person

    上手なほう

    better than average

    上手なコミュニケーション

    good communication

  • 上手につかう

    to use something well

    上手にできる

    to be able to do something well

    上手になる

    to get better at something

  • コミュニケーション上手

    a good communicator

    やりくり上手

    good at budgeting

    はなし上手

    a good speaker

Context Sentences

ジェニーさん、スキーが上手ですね。

Jenny, you're good at skiing.

キアヌ・リーブスのモノマネが上手な人、いませんか?

Is there anyone here who can do a good Keanu Reeves impression?

「はじめまして。」「はじめまして。にほんご上手ですね!」

"Nice to meet you." "Nice to meet you. Your Japanese is good!"


Kanji Composition