上手 vs 巧い
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 上手
Listen to 巧い
| 上手 | 巧い |
|---|---|
joo-ZOO adjective | うまい adjective |
| skilled; good at doing something | skillful; cleverly done; deft |
How they differ
巧い is close to 上手, but it often suggests more refined technique, cleverness, or finesse. It is especially natural when describing a performance, writing, or a piece of craftsmanship, and it can sound more evaluative or literary than the plain everyday 上手.
When to use each
When to use 上手: Use 上手 for a simple, neutral way to say that someone is skillful.
When to use 巧い: Use 巧い when you want to praise the elegance, cleverness, or finesse of how something was done.
Side-by-side examples
- 彼女はピアノが上手です。
(She is good at the piano.) - 彼女はピアノを巧く弾きます。
(She plays the piano skillfully.)
Register & nuance: 巧い is less common in casual speech than 上手 and often feels more written, polished, or stylistic.