上手
jōzuSkillful, proficient, or good at something
彼はピアノが上手だ
He is good at playing the piano
上手に料理を作る
To cook skillfully
Often used to compliment someone's ability in a specific skill or activity
Upstream (in a river or stream)
上手の方から下手の方へ流れる
The water flows from upstream to downstream
Less common meaning, often seen in geographical or technical contexts
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💡Pro Tip
Complimenting someone
Use '上手ですね' to politely compliment someone's skill in a respectful manner.
⚡Gold Rule
Context matters
The meaning can vary based on context—always consider whether it's referring to skill or direction (upstream).
📖Word Origin
Combination of '上' (above, upstream) and '手' (hand), originally referring to the upstream side of a river where the water is clearer and the fishing is better, hence 'skillful'
📝Usage Notes
Can be used as a na-adjective (上手だ) or as a noun (上手). The opposite is '下手' (bad at, unskillful).