上手（じょうず）
JLPT N5 · na-adjective
Pitch accent: odaka (tail-high) — high to the end, drops on a following particle (accent on mora 3)
Meaning: good at / skilled
Conjugation
| Form | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| te-form | 上手で | じょうずで |
| ta-form (past) | 上手だった | じょうずだった |
| nai-form (negative) | 上手ではない | じょうずではない |
See the full conjugation table for "上手" →
Example sentences
- 彼女は歌がとても上手だ。 — She's a really good singer.
- もっと日本語が上手になりたい。 — I want to get better at Japanese.
Idioms & proverbs containing “上手”
- 話し上手は聞き上手 (はなしじょうずはききじょうず) — good talkers make good listeners
- 好きこそものの上手なれ (すきこそもののじょうずなれ) — what one likes, one will do well; you become good at what you like doing
- 上手の手から水が漏れる (じょうずのてからみずがもれる) — anyone can make a mistake; even Homer nods
- 上手を行く (うわてをいく) — to have the upper hand; to surpass (someone)
Antonyms
- 下手 (へた) — bad at
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “上手” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)