Japanese symbol for “clever”
上手
じょうず
Romaji: jouzu
skillful; skilled; proficient; good (at)
In Japanese, clever is 上手, read じょうず (jouzu).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- adj-na, n skillful; skilled; proficient; good (at); adept; clever
- n flattery
Written forms: 上手. Readings: じょうず、じょうて、じょうしゅ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “clever”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 巧み | たくみ takumi | skillful; adroit; dexterous |
| 利口 | りこう rikou | clever; intelligent; bright |
| 巧妙 | こうみょう koumyou | ingenious; skillful; clever |
| 賢い | かしこい kashikoi | wise; clever; smart |
| 味 | あじ aji | smart; clever; witty |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 以上 | いじょう ijou | not less than ...; ... and over; ... and above |
| 売り上げ | うりあげ uriage | amount sold; sales; proceeds |
| 上昇 | じょうしょう joushou | rising; ascending; climbing |
| 向上 | こうじょう koujou | elevation; rise; improvement |
| 上司 | じょうし joushi | (one's) superior; (one's) boss; the higher-ups |
| 地上 | ちじょう chijou | above ground; on the ground; earth's surface |
| 相手 | あいて aite | companion; partner; company |
| 選手 | せんしゅ senshu | player (of a sport); athlete; team member |
See also: Chinese symbol for “clever”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.