巧者・功者|こうしゃkousha[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Which spelling to use
巧者巧者 is the more common written form and the one beginners should normally choose when writing this word.
功者功者 is less common than 巧者; treat it as an alternative written form rather than your first choice.
Definitions
- na-adjective, nouncleverness; skill; tact
- nounclever person (in a particular field); skillful person (skilful)
Conjugation
| Plain form | 巧者（こうしゃ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 巧者です（こうしゃです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 巧者ではない（こうしゃではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 巧者ではありません（こうしゃではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 巧者だった（こうしゃだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 巧者ではなかった（こうしゃではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 巧者で（こうしゃで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 巧者に（こうしゃに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 巧者なら（こうしゃなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym玄人くろうとCasualColloquial for an insider or pro, the opposite of 「素人」; 「巧者」 stresses clever technique.
- Synonym達人たつじんNeutralA master who has deeply mastered a discipline; 「巧者」 is milder in degree, stressing cleverness.
- RelatedエキスパートNeutralLoanword for an expert in a particular field; 「巧者」 stresses cleverness in how one does things, often as 「試合巧者」.
- Related専門家せんもんかNeutralA person with professional knowledge of a field; 「巧者」 stresses skillful, tactful handling.
- Related名人めいじんNeutralSomeone with outstanding mastery of an art, also a title in go and shogi; 「巧者」 emphasizes doing things cleverly.
- Related名手めいしゅNeutralSomeone with outstanding skill or craftsmanship, also a brilliant move in go or shogi; 「巧者」 leans toward clever handling of situations.
- RelatedスペシャリストNeutralLoanword for someone specializing in one field; 「巧者」 does not stress specialization.
- Related手練れてだれNeutralA seasoned master of martial or artistic skills, with an old-fashioned air; 「巧者」 stresses cleverness of method, as in 「聞き巧者」.
- Related老手ろうしゅWrittenWritten word for an experienced veteran; 「巧者」 does not stress long experience.
- Related熟練者じゅくれんしゃWrittenWritten term for someone skilled through practice; 「巧者」 stresses cleverness instead.
- Antonym無能むのうNeutralHaving no ability or competence; the opposite of 「巧者」.
- Antonym非才ひさいWrittenWritten word for lack of ability, often used self-deprecatingly; the opposite of 「巧者」.
For a professional, use 「専門家」; for outstanding mastery, 「名人」 or 「達人」. For someone clever in how they do things or good at handling situations, use 「巧者」, as in 「試合巧者」, 「聞き巧者」, 「やりくり巧者」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
