★The difference between 上手 and 得意

Do you know the difference between 上手 じょうず and 得意 とくい?
They both means "good at."


Both of 上手 and 得意 are words to indicate to express proficiency.
上手 じょうず is normally used when you praise someone. It can not be used for yourself.
On the other hand, 得意 とくい can be used for someone else and yourself. 


★When you praise someone, use 上手.
あなたは 料理(りょうり)が 上手(じょうず)ですね。
You are good at cooking.

★When you talk about what YOU are good at, use 得意.
私(わたし)は 料理(りょうり)が 得意(とくい)です。
I am good at cooking.

★When you talk about what someone is good at, use 得意.
彼女(かのじょ)は 料理(りょうり)が 得意(とくい)です。
She is good at cooking.

The basic rule is that 得意(とくい) can be used for most things, but 上手(じょうず) is used only to describe actual and practical skills of somebody who plays (or does) something specific .


彼女(かのじょ)は日本語(にほんご)が得意(とくい)です。
She is good at Japanese.

In this case, 日本語 implies her high skills of speaking, writing and reading in Japanese.



彼女(かのじょ)は日本語(にほんご)が上手(じょうず) です。
She is good at Japanese.

In this case, 日本語 implies her action as speaking Japanese.

You can also say 
彼女は日本語を話(はな)すのが上手(じょうず) です。
She is good at speaking Japanese.

★★The only exception is when you talk about school subjects. ★★
Always use 得意(とくい)  for them. Never use 上手(じょうず)  for them.

あなたは体育(たいいく)が得意(とくい)ですね。
You are good at P.E. (praising someone)

私(わたし)は体育(たいいく)が得意(とくい)です。
I am good at P.E.

 彼女(かのじょ)は体育(たいいく)が得意(とくい)です。
 She is good at P.E.