How to say "expert" in Japanese

• 博士はかせJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers the learned-person sense: a scholar with deep academic knowledge, often someone holding a doctorate. It suits scientists and scholars rather than skilled tradespeople.
• 玄人くろうとJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounCovers the professional sense: someone skilled through long hands-on experience in a trade, craft, or art, in contrast to an amateur. The nuance is insider experience, not academic standing.
  彼かれは玄人くろうとにちかい。↗

  He is almost professional.
• エキスパートCommon
  nounThe direct loanword: use it for a person with specialized knowledge or skill in a technical, professional, or business field when you simply mean 'expert' as in English.
  過去かこにおいて高齢者こうれいしゃたちは人生じんせいの様々さまざまな問題もんだいを解決かいけつするときのエキスパートと考かんがえられていた。↗

  In the past, the old used to be looked upon as experts in solving various problems of life.
• 名人めいじんJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers the master sense: a person with consummate, polished skill in a craft, art, or game. It highlights admired technique, so it fits a master craftsman or artist more than a scholarly authority.
  彼女かのじょの夫おっとは料理りょうりの名人めいじんなのだ。↗

  Her husband is an excellent cook.
• 大家たいかCommon
  nounCovers the authority sense: an eminent, recognized leading figure in a field of scholarship or an art. Read it たいか in this sense; おおや, written the same way, means landlord.
  あの人ひとは物理学ぶつりがくの大家たいかです。↗

  He is an authority on physics.

Choose by the kind of expertise: 「エキスパート」 for the general loanword sense, 玄人 for seasoned insiders as opposed to amateurs, 名人 for masterly craft skill, 大家 for recognized authorities, and 博士 for learned scholars.

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

• 博士はかせexpert
• 玄人くろうとexpert
• エキスパートexpert
• 名人めいじんmaster
• 大家たいかmaster
• 達人たつじんmaster
• 通つうauthority
• 名手めいしゅmaster
• うまいskillful
• 練達れんたつexpert(ise)
• 有識者ゆうしきしゃexpert
• 専門家せんもんかspecialist
• 老練ろうれんexperienced
• 好手こうしゅexpert
• 角通かくつうexpert
• 熟練者じゅくれんしゃexpert
• 達士たっしexpert
• 練達の士れんたつのしexpert
• 其れ者それしゃexpert
• 老練家ろうれんかveteran
• 精通者せいつうしゃwell versed person
• 手練れてだれmastery
• 権威けんい(an) authority (on)
• 達者たっしゃmaster
• 妙手みょうしゅexpert
• 商売人しょうばいにんexpert (in a trade or profession)
• 名家めいかgreat master
• まいゆskillful
• うめぇskillful
• 曲者くせものexpert
• 本手ほんてexpert
• 聖ひじりmaster