上手
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Base na-adjective form. Describes proficiency or skill in an activity. Used with 『です』 (desu) or 『な』 (na) before nouns, e.g., 『上手な人』 (jōzu na hito, 'skillful person').
Theme
At a community center, User and their friend Akira are watching a local art exhibition and discussing the skills of the artists.
上手
じょうず
skillful / good at
Core Language Building BlocksDescriptive Language
Memory Hook
Think of someone who's 'super good' at something — they're so skilled, you say 'Jōzu' sounds like 'Joe's zoo' where Joe runs the zoo expertly! 'Joe's zoo' → 上手 (jōzu, 'skillful').
Cultural Note
『上手』 (jōzu) is often used to compliment someone's skills, such as in arts, sports, or cooking. It's polite to say 『お上手ですね』 (ojōzu desu ne, 'you are good at it') when praising others.
Forms
Base: 上手Base na-adjective form. Describes proficiency or skill in an activity. Used with 『です』 (desu) or 『な』 (na) before nouns, e.g., 『上手な人』 (jōzu na hito, 'skillful person').
Negative: 上手じゃないAdd 『じゃない』 (janai, negative) after the base form → 『上手じゃない』 (jōzu janai).
Past: 上手だったAdd 『だった』 (datta, past) after the base form → 『上手だった』 (jōzu datta).
Adverbial: 上手にAdd 『に』 (ni, adverbial) after the base form → 『上手に』 (jōzu ni).
Comparative: より上手Comparative formed with modifier 『より』 (yori, 'more than') + base adjective.
Superlative: 一番上手Superlative formed with 『一番』 (ichiban, 'number one / Most') + base adjective.