Translation guide
To be exceptionally good at something or to surpass others in performance.
Expressing that someone is skilled, talented, or performs well in a particular area.
The most common and versatile verb meaning 'to excel' or 'to be superior'. Often used in the form 優れている to describe a state of excellence.
Expressing that someone or something is better than others in a competitive or comparative sense.
Expressing that someone performed excellently in a test, competition, or task.
Literally 'to achieve good results'. Commonly used for excelling in exams or competitions.
彼は試験で好成績を収めた。
He excelled in the exam.
優れる (sugureru) implies a higher degree of excellence and is often used for objective superiority. 得意 (tokui) is more subjective and simply means 'good at' or 'one's strong point'. Use 優れる when you want to emphasize that someone is exceptionally good, not just competent.
彼は数学が得意だ。
He is good at math.
彼は数学に優れている。
He excels in math.
There is no single Japanese verb that covers all uses of 'excel'. The choice depends on whether you mean 'be skilled at', 'surpass others', or 'achieve excellent results'. Using the wrong word can sound unnatural or overly formal.
彼女は何をやっても優れている。
She excels at everything she does.
当社は顧客サービスに優れています。
Our company excels in customer service.
He excels in mathematics.
この車は燃費に優れている。
This car excels in fuel efficiency.
A slightly more literary verb meaning 'to excel' or 'to be outstanding'. Often used for exceptional talent.
彼女は語学に秀でている。
She excels in languages.
Means 'to be good at' or 'to excel in', often used for specific skills or arts. Commonly appears as 長けている.
彼は話術に長けている。
He excels in the art of conversation.
Literally 'to be one's strong point'. A very common way to say someone is good at something, though slightly less strong than 'excel'.
私は料理が得意です。
I excel at cooking. (I am good at cooking.)
A formal word meaning 'to excel' or 'to be preeminent'. Used in written or formal contexts.
彼はその分野で卓越した能力を持つ。
He possesses outstanding ability in that field.
Means 'to stand out' or 'to surpass others'. Implies being head and shoulders above the rest.
彼はクラスで抜きん出ている。
He excels above the rest of the class.
Means 'to surpass' or 'to outdo', often in terms of ability, quality, or intensity. Can also mean 'to endure'.
彼の才能は他の追随を許さないほど凌いでいる。
His talent excels so much that others cannot keep up.
An idiomatic phrase meaning 'to be outstanding' or 'to be head and shoulders above the rest'.
彼女の演技は群を抜いていた。
Her performance was outstanding.
Means 'to get excellent grades/results'. A straightforward way to say someone excelled academically.
彼女は大学で優秀な成績を取った。
She excelled at university.