Search pages and navigate
Good at doing
Definition
The grammar pattern "〜のが上手" is used to express that someone is skilled or good at doing something. It emphasizes their proficiency or ability in a particular activity. The pattern is often used in casual conversations to describe someone's talents or skills. For example, "山田さんは料理を切るのが上手です" means "Mr. Yamada is good at cutting vegetables." The nuance of this pattern is that it focuses on the person's ability rather than the outcome of their actions.
Structure
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb dictionary form | Verb dictionary form + のが + 上手(じょうず)です | 泳ぐのが上手です |
| Verb dictionary form with -te form | Verb dictionary form -te form + のが + 上手(じょうず)です | 走るのが上手です |
| Verb dictionary form with -masu form | Verb dictionary form -masu form + のが + 上手(じょうず)です | 食べるのが上手です |
Examples
山田さんは料理を切るのが上手です。
Yamada-san wa ryouri o kiru no ga jyouzu desu.
Mr. Yamada is good at cutting vegetables.
山田さん (Mr. Yamada) は (is) 料理を (vegetables) 切るの (cutting) が (subject marker) 上手 (skilled) です (describes the ability)
田中さんは料理を作るのが上手です。
Tanaka-san wa ryouri o tsukuru no ga jyouzu desu.
Mr. Tanaka is good at cooking.
田中さん (Mr. Tanaka) は (is) 料理を (food) 作るの (cooking) が (subject marker) 上手 (skilled) です (describes the ability)
あの子どもは絵を描くのが上手ですね。
A no kodomo wa e o egaku no ga jyouzu desu ne.
That child is good at drawing.
あの子ども (that child) は (is) 絵を (picture) 描くの (drawing) が (subject marker) 上手 (skilled) です (describes the ability)
彼女は英語を話すのが上手です。
Kanojo wa eigo o hanasu no ga jyouzu desu.
She is good at speaking English.
彼女 (she) は (is) 英語を (English) 話すの (speaking) が (subject marker) 上手 (skilled) です (describes the ability)
Context
This pattern is used to describe someone's ability or skill in a particular activity. It is often used in casual conversations to express admiration or appreciation for someone's talents. The pattern is not typically used to describe oneself, as it may sound arrogant. Instead, the pattern "得意" is used to describe one's own skills or abilities.
Watch out
Using the -masu form instead of the dictionary form will change the meaning of the sentence. For example, "泳ぐのが上手です" means "I am good at swimming," but "泳ぐのが上手です (masu form)" means "I am good at swimming (in the future)."
While both "上手" and "うまい" can be used to describe something as good or skilled, "上手" is used to describe someone's ability or skill, whereas "うまい" is used to describe something as good or skilled in a more general sense.
Using "のが上手" to describe oneself may sound arrogant or boastful. Instead, use the pattern "得意" to describe one's own skills or abilities.
Strategy
When using this pattern in the JLPT exam, make sure to use the dictionary form of the verb and the correct particle "のが". Also, be careful not to confuse "上手" with "うまい". Finally, remember to use "得意" to describe oneself.
In context
Worked examples drawn from JLPT N5 test-style questions. Each sentence shows 〜のが上手 used correctly, with a brief note on what the pattern is doing.
山田さんは泳ぐのが上手です。
Pattern used: 泳ぐ
Before のが, the verb must be in dictionary form. 泳ぐ (to swim) + のが上手 = good at swimming. Using ます-form before のが is incorrect.
田中さんは料理を作るのが上手です。
Pattern used: 作る
Dictionary form is required before のが. 作る (to make) + のが上手 = good at making. Past tense or て-form are not used in this pattern.
あの子どもは絵をかくのが上手ですね。
Pattern used: かく
Dictionary form + のが上手 describes skill. かく (to draw) + のが上手 = good at drawing. かける (potential form) changes the meaning to 'able to draw'.
Interactive
山田さんは______のが上手です。
Adaptive practice
Our adaptive engine will quiz you on this grammar pattern and track your progress toward mastery.