十八番・御箱|おはこohako[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounone's favourite party trick (favorite); one's specialty; one's forte
   それは彼かれの十八番おはこだ。↗

   That's his specialty.
2. nounNo. 18; eighteenth
3. nounrepertoire of 18 kabuki plays

• Synonymお家芸おいえげいNeutralThe art a person or group has truly mastered; also the signature plays a kabuki school passes down the generations. Very close to 「十八番」.
• Synonym得手えてNeutralBeing good at something; often appears in the set phrase 「得手不得手」. Focuses on the area one excels in.
• Related取り柄とりえNeutralA redeeming feature or merit; often in 「取り柄がない」. Not necessarily a performed skill — any good point counts.
• Related強みつよみNeutralA strength or advantage, often used when comparing with rivals; not a party piece.
• Related長所ちょうしょNeutralA merit, the counterpart of shortcomings; focuses on personality or product performance rather than a speciality.
• Related特技とくぎNeutralA special skill or stunt — the kind you list in the skills section of a résumé.
• Related特長とくちょうNeutralAn outstanding merit; often used for the strong points of products.
• Related専売特許せんばいとっきょNeutralLiterally a patent; figuratively a party piece that only you can do, as in 「彼の専売特許」. Works in both speech and writing.
• Related取り所とりどころWrittenMerits or redeeming points; a written-style word, though rare even in formal prose.
• Related強いところつよいところNeutralA colloquial way to say strong point; stresses the advantage one has over others.

For the song or trick you are best at, use 「十八番」 or 「おはこ」, as in 「十八番の歌」. For fields you are good at, say 「得意」 or 「得手」; for ordinary merits, 「取り柄」 or 「長所」.

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

1. 得意とくいとする芸げい。