How to say "competence" in Japanese

• 敏腕びんわんCommon
  na-adjective, no-adjectiveCovers competence in the sense of being impressively capable and effective, typically a professional admired for shrewd, skillful handling of work. It describes such a person or their performance rather than naming the ability as a thing.
  彼かれは若わかかったが、敏腕びんわんだった。↗

  Young as he was, he was a man of ability.
• 腕うでJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounLiterally 'arm', it covers competence as a person's skill or ability in a craft, trade, or profession. It is really 'skill' first; speak of someone's 腕 being good, or of honing it, rather than abstract competence.
  あなたにいくら給料きゅうりょうを支払しはらうかは、あなたの腕うで次第しだいですね。↗

  How much we pay you depends on your skill.

Use 敏腕 for competent, capable performance admired in a person (especially professional work), and 腕 for a person's skill or ability itself, often discussed as being high or refined.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 敏腕びんわんability
• コンピテンスcompetence
• 応答能おうとうのうcompetence
• 慣熟かんじゅくproficiency
• 言語能力げんごのうりょく(linguistic) competence
• 腕うでability