上手 vs 優秀
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 上手
Listen to 優秀
| 上手 | 優秀 |
|---|---|
joo-ZOO adjective | ゆうしゅう adjective |
| skilled; good at doing something | excellent; outstanding; top-tier |
How they differ
優秀 overlaps with 上手 in the sense of high ability, but it is broader and stronger: it describes overall excellence, not just skill in one activity. Unlike 上手, it is not usually used to mean “good at” a hobby or routine action; it more often evaluates a person, student, worker, or result as outstanding.
When to use each
When to use 上手: Use 上手 when you are talking about being good at a specific skill or action.
When to use 優秀: Use 優秀 when you want to say someone is an excellent person, student, employee, or performer overall.
Side-by-side examples
- 彼は絵が上手です。
(He is good at drawing.) - 彼は優秀な学生です。
(He is an excellent student.)
Register & nuance: 優秀 is more formal and often used in evaluation, school, business, or institutional settings.