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道Nihongo Path

秀でる

ひいでる

to excel

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 語学に秀でている。

    ごがくにひいでている。

    He excels in languages.

  2. 彼は記憶力に秀でた生徒だ。

    かれはきおくりょくにひいでたせいとだ。

    He is a student with an outstanding memory.

  3. 一芸に秀でることが大切だ。

    いちげいにひいでることがたいせつだ。

    What matters is excelling in one thing.

Common patterns

一芸に秀でる
to excel in one art
秀でた才能
outstanding talent
語学に秀でる
to be gifted at languages

Memory tip

It takes に for the field you excel in, and usually appears as 秀でている or 秀でた. It shares 秀 with 優秀. 優れる is the neutral everyday word; 秀でる reads like praise in a written profile.

Kanji in this word

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What does 秀でる mean?