How to say "ace" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe all-purpose word for 'ace': a team's star player, an ace serve in tennis or volleyball, or figuratively the most capable person in a group.僕の所にエースが４枚来ている。↗I have been dealt four aces.
- nounThe sports term for an ace serve: a serve in tennis or volleyball that the opponent cannot return and that wins the point outright. Use it for the serve itself, not for a player.
- 神様かみさまnounLiterally 'god'; figuratively it hails someone as supremely skilled—an 'ace' amongst men—often as an exclamation of admiration. For neutral talk about a team's ace, エース is the natural choice.
Use 「エース」 for the general senses—an ace player or serve; 「サービスエース」 specifically for an unreturnable serve in tennis or volleyball; and 神様 only figuratively, praising someone as supremely skilled.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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