Japanese word

優

Pronunciation

Romajiyū

Meaning

  • nounA

Example

試験の成績は優でした。shi ken no sei seki wa yū de shi ta

The test grade was an A.

Illustration for 優 (A)

More examples

この科目では優を取るのが目標です。ko no ka moku de wa yū o to ru no ga moku hyō de su

My goal in this subject is to get an A.

Core concept

Shows that a result or performance reaches an excellent level within a formal system of evaluation.

Common phrases

  • 優を取るyū o to ru

    get an A

  • 優を目指すyū o me za su

    aim for an A

Similar words

良ryō: A grade used in a formal system for work that reaches a good standard.
秀shū: A grade marking an outstanding level in a formal system of evaluation.

Definition in Japanese

試験や成績などで、特にすぐれた評価を受けたことを示す等級。shi ken ya sei seki na do de toku ni su gu re ta hyō ka o u ke ta ko to o shime su tō kyū

Word origin

優 (yū, "excellent") uses the Sino-Japanese reading yū of the character 優, whose meaning of being excellent gave rise to its use as a high academic evaluation.

Usage tips

  • In academic contexts, 優 (yū, "excellent") is a formal label rather than a casual way to praise every good result, and it commonly appears in discussions of grades and transcripts.

Opposites

  • 不合格fugōkakufailing gradena-adjective

Word lists with this word