Skill and praise
Core words, Stage 1chunk 35 of 55Adjectives: people
Lets you say what you're good or bad at and praise someone.
- tokuigood at; strong point
- hetabad at; unskilled
- eraigood for you; admirable; important (person)
- rippaadmirable; fine; impressive
- yuushuuexcellent; very capable; top (student, worker)
Mix-ups Tokui pairs with nigate, heta with jouzu; erai praises effort, yuushuu ability.
tokui
polite tokui desu
good at; strong point
X ga tokui = I'm good at X; fine to say about yourself without sounding like bragging.
Opposite is nigate (weak at, not my thing). Jouzu is praise for others; tokui works for yourself.
ryouri wa tokui da yo.
I'm good at cooking.
料理は得意だよ。
ryouri wa tokui desu.
I'm good at cooking.
料理は得意です。
Written 得意 · とくい · 得意ですRank #1275 in 3,030 TV dramas
heta
polite heta desu
bad at; unskilled
X ga heta = bad at X; fine about yourself, blunt about others.
Opposite is jouzu. Nigate is 'not my thing'; heta is about lack of skill.
uta, heta dakara karaoke wa iya.
I'm bad at singing, so no karaoke.
歌、下手だからカラオケは嫌。
uta ga heta na node, karaoke wa chotto.
I'm bad at singing, so karaoke isn't really for me.
歌が下手なので、カラオケはちょっと。
Written 下手 · へた · 下手ですRank #1475 in 3,030 TV dramas
erai
polite erai desu
good for you; admirable; important (person)
Praise for effort, even small: 'erai!' = well done!; 'erai hito' = a big shot.
Praising a superior with erai sounds condescending; use it for peers, juniors and kids.
mainichi benkyou shiteru no? erai ne!
You study every day? Good for you!
毎日勉強してるの？偉いね！
mainichi benkyou shite iru n desu ka. erai desu ne.
You study every day? That's impressive.
毎日勉強しているんですか。偉いですね。
Written 偉い · えらい · 偉いですRank #1324 in 3,030 TV dramas
rippa
polite rippa desu
admirable; fine; impressive
Praise for someone who has grown up or done well, and for grand things like a big house.
Rippa na ie = an impressive house. Sounds a little grown-up or formal from a young speaker.
ano ko, rippa na otona ni natta ne.
That kid grew up into a fine adult.
あの子、立派な大人になったね。
ano ko wa rippa na otona ni narimashita ne.
That child has grown into a fine adult.
あの子は立派な大人になりましたね。
Written 立派 · りっぱ · 立派ですRank #875 in 3,030 TV dramas
yuushuu
polite yuushuu desu
excellent; very capable; top (student, worker)
Praise for ability at school or work; a bit formal.
About ability, not character; for character use rippa or erai.
kanojo, sugoku yuushuu nan da yo.
She's really sharp.
彼女、すごく優秀なんだよ。
kanojo wa totemo yuushuu desu.
She's very capable.
彼女はとても優秀です。
Written 優秀 · ゆうしゅう · 優秀ですRank #1364 in 3,030 TV dramas