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上手な
jōzu na
good at
彼女はピアノが上手です。
She is good at playing the piano.
neutral
Skilled or proficient in a particular activity or field.
彼は料理が上手です。
He is good at cooking.
彼女の歌が上手ですね。
Her singing is good, isn't it?
Used to describe someone's ability in a positive way. Often followed by a noun or verb phrase (e.g., 上手な人 'a skilled person', 上手に描く 'to draw skillfully').
neutral
Skillful or well-executed in a general sense (not necessarily referring to a person).
上手な演技に拍手が起きた。
Applause broke out for the skillful performance.
Can describe actions, techniques, or performances.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid confusing with 下手な
上手な means 'good at' or 'skillful,' while 下手な means 'bad at' or 'unskillful.' Mixing them up can lead to misunderstandings.
Gold Rule
Use with nouns or verb phrases
上手な is typically followed by a noun (e.g., 上手な人) or a verb phrase (e.g., 上手に描く 'to draw skillfully').
Word Origin
From the noun 上手 (じょうず, 'skill') + the copula な. The kanji 上手 literally means 'upper hand' or 'superior position,' reflecting the idea of being better than others.
Usage Notes
上手な is a な-adjective and must be followed by な before a noun (e.g., 上手な人 'a skilled person'). It is more formal than うまい, which is casual and can also mean 'delicious.' Avoid using 上手な to describe food; use おいしい instead.
Word Breakdown
上手
skill; superior position
nounな
copula (connects adjective to noun)
suffix和英辞典