腕を磨く
polish skills
Literalmente: to polish one's arm
Use this phrase to show you are actively working hard to master a specific practical skill.
Em 15 segundos
- Refining your skills through dedicated practice and hard work.
- Uses the 'arm' as a metaphor for talent and mastery.
- Perfect for hobbies, sports, and professional career growth.
Significado
This phrase describes the process of refining and improving your skills through hard work and practice. It is like taking a rough diamond and polishing it until it truly shines.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 6Talking about a hobby
週末はテニスの腕を磨いています。
I'm polishing my tennis skills on the weekends.
In a job interview
貴社でプログラミングの腕を磨きたいと考えています。
I would like to polish my programming skills at your company.
Texting a friend
もっとギターの腕を磨いて、ライブに出たいな！
I want to polish my guitar skills and play a live show!
Contexto cultural
The 'arm' (ude) has been a metaphor for ability in Japan since the Edo period. It highlights the cultural value placed on physical craftsmanship and the 'Shokunin' spirit of lifelong refinement. It is a phrase that bridges the gap between ancient martial arts and modern professional development.
The Humble Brag
Use this phrase when you want to mention your talent without sounding arrogant. It implies you are still a student of your craft.
Not for 'Knowledge'
Avoid using this for passive learning like history or math. It's for active skills where your 'arms' (metaphorically) do the work.
Em 15 segundos
- Refining your skills through dedicated practice and hard work.
- Uses the 'arm' as a metaphor for talent and mastery.
- Perfect for hobbies, sports, and professional career growth.
What It Means
Imagine you have a rusty old sword. You need to scrub it hard to make it shine. That is exactly what 腕を磨く is about. In Japanese, your 腕 (arm) represents your talent or skill. So, you aren't literally scrubbing your skin. You are refining your craft through hard work. It's about that satisfying feeling of getting better every day. It suggests a journey from being okay to being a master.
How To Use It
Using this phrase is quite simple. You take the skill you are working on and add の腕を磨く (no ude o migaku) after it. For example, if you like cooking, you say 料理の腕を磨く (ryouri no ude o migaku). It works perfectly with the particle を (o) to show the action. You can use it in the present tense to show your current effort. You can also use the potential form 磨きたい (migakitai) to say you want to improve. It is a very flexible and active expression.
When To Use It
This is your go-to phrase for hobbies, sports, and professional work. Use it when you are talking about your New Year's resolutions. It is great for job interviews to show you are a hard worker. You can use it when texting a friend about a new guitar riff you learned. It feels very proactive and positive. It shows you have a growth mindset. Use it whenever you are putting in the hours to level up.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for things that don't require actual skill or effort. You wouldn't say you are "polishing your arm" at watching Netflix or sleeping. It is also not for purely academic knowledge. You don't usually "polish your arm" at memorizing history dates. It is specifically for "doing" things—crafts, arts, sports, or technical jobs. Also, avoid using it for someone else unless you are praising them. It might sound a bit condescending if used as a command.
Cultural Background
In old Japan, craftsmen and warriors were defined by their physical ability. The "arm" became a powerful symbol of a person's mastery. This phrase reflects the Japanese "Shokunin" (artisan) spirit. This spirit values the endless pursuit of perfection. Even masters believe they still need to "polish" their skills. It is a deeply respected mindset in Japanese society. It shows that you value the process, not just the result.
Common Variations
If you have already improved, you use 腕が上がる (ude ga agaru), meaning your skill went up. If you want to show off your skills, use 腕を振るう (ude o furuu). This is often used for chefs serving a big meal. If you are confident in your skill, you are 腕に覚えがある (ude ni oboe ga aru). Each variation uses the "arm" to tell a different story about your talent.
Notas de uso
This phrase is neutral and safe for almost any situation. Just remember it focuses on the *process* of improvement rather than the final result.
The Humble Brag
Use this phrase when you want to mention your talent without sounding arrogant. It implies you are still a student of your craft.
Not for 'Knowledge'
Avoid using this for passive learning like history or math. It's for active skills where your 'arms' (metaphorically) do the work.
The Artisan Secret
Japanese culture loves the word 'Migaku' (polish). It's used for shoes, mirrors, and souls! It implies that everything beautiful requires constant friction and effort.
Exemplos
6週末はテニスの腕を磨いています。
I'm polishing my tennis skills on the weekends.
A very common way to describe hobby improvement.
貴社でプログラミングの腕を磨きたいと考えています。
I would like to polish my programming skills at your company.
Shows ambition and a willingness to learn.
もっとギターの腕を磨いて、ライブに出たいな！
I want to polish my guitar skills and play a live show!
Casual and enthusiastic.
自炊を始めたけど、腕を磨く前にお皿を割りすぎた。
I started cooking for myself, but I broke too many plates before I could polish my skills.
Uses the phrase to contrast effort with a clumsy mistake.
父のような職人になるために、毎日腕を磨いています。
I polish my skills every day to become a craftsman like my father.
Deeply respectful and serious.
一緒に腕を磨いて、次の大会で優勝しよう！
Let's polish our skills together and win the next tournament!
Motivational and inclusive.
Teste-se
Choose the correct particle and verb to complete the sentence: 'I want to polish my cooking skills.'
料理___腕を___。
You use 'no' to connect the skill to 'ude' and 'migakitai' to express the desire to polish.
Which word represents 'skill' in this idiom?
___を磨く。
In Japanese idioms, the 'arm' (ude) is the symbol for skill or ability.
🎉 Pontuação: /2
Recursos visuais
Formality Spectrum of 'Ude o Migaku'
Chatting with friends about video games or sports.
ゲームの腕を磨くぞ！
General conversation about hobbies or self-improvement.
料理の腕を磨いています。
Business interviews or professional goal setting.
技術の腕を磨く所存です。
Where to Polish Your Skills
The Kitchen
Mastering a new recipe
The Office
Learning new software
The Gym
Improving your swing
The Studio
Practicing an instrument
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasGenerally, no. It is best for practical skills. For math or science, you would use 学力をつける (gakuryoku o tsukeru) instead.
Yes, it is very common. You can say スキルを磨く (sukiru o migaku) or 腕を磨く to show your dedication to professional growth.
Renshuu is just the act of practicing. Migaku implies a deeper level of refinement and long-term commitment to quality.
Yes, you can praise someone by saying 腕を磨きましたね (You've really polished your skills). It sounds very encouraging.
Not at all! It is a timeless classic used by everyone from professional athletes to young gamers.
No, even for soccer, you still use 腕 (arm). The 'arm' is the fixed metaphor for all skills in this idiom.
You can just say もっと上手くなりたい (motto umaku naritai), but 腕を磨く sounds more determined and cool.
You never really 'finish,' but you can say 腕を上げた (ude o ageta) to mean your skill level has successfully risen.
It is less common for social skills. Usually, it is reserved for crafts, arts, or technical abilities.
No, it is almost always positive. It shows effort, discipline, and the desire to be better.
Frases relacionadas
腕が上がる
Skills have improved
腕を振るう
To display one's skills
腕に覚えがある
To be confident in one's skills
自分を磨く
To improve oneself (general self-growth)
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