能力の高い
能力の高い 30秒で
- Used to describe people with high professional or intellectual skills.
- Common in business, recruitment, and formal academic settings.
- Grammatically uses 'no' instead of 'ga' when modifying a noun.
- A respectful and objective way to praise someone's competence.
The phrase 能力の高い (のうりょくのたかい) is a sophisticated way to describe someone who possesses a high level of competence, skill, or intellectual capacity. In Japanese, the word nōryoku (能力) translates to 'ability' or 'capability,' while takai (高い) means 'high.' When combined, they form an adjectival phrase used to characterize individuals who excel in their field, demonstrate sharp problem-solving skills, or have a broad range of talents. This expression is particularly common in professional settings, educational contexts, and formal discussions about human resources or talent acquisition. It is important to note the grammatical structure: the particle の (no) is used here as a subject marker within a relative clause, which is a common substitution for が (ga) when modifying a noun. Therefore, nōryoku ga takai becomes nōryoku no takai when it directly precedes a noun like hito (person) or shain (employee).
- Professional Context
- Used to describe elite employees or candidates who can handle complex tasks with ease.
- Academic Context
- Refers to students or researchers with high cognitive abilities or specialized expertise.
- General Nuance
- Implies a consistent level of high performance rather than a one-time success.
弊社は能力の高いエンジニアを募集しています。(Our company is looking for highly capable engineers.)
When you use this phrase, you are attributing a stable quality to the person. It is more formal than saying someone is 'good at' something (上手 - jōzu) and broader than saying they are 'smart' (頭がいい - atama ga ii). It suggests a combination of innate potential and acquired skills. In a society like Japan, where meritocracy and professional excellence are highly valued, being described as nōryoku no takai is a significant compliment. However, because it sounds somewhat objective or evaluative, it is often used by superiors to describe subordinates or by third parties (like recruiters) rather than among close friends in a casual setting. Understanding the weight of this word helps learners navigate the nuances of Japanese workplace etiquette and formal social structures.
彼は若手だが、非常に能力の高いリーダーだ。(He is young, but he is a highly capable leader.)
The grammatical use of 能力の高い is primarily as a noun modifier. In Japanese, when a whole phrase acts as an adjective for a noun, we call it a relative clause. In the phrase nōryoku no takai hito, the core idea is 'a person whose ability is high.' Note that while you can say nōryoku ga takai (the ability is high), when it moves into the position of modifying a noun, the ga often shifts to no. This is a hallmark of N3/B1 level Japanese grammar known as 'Ga-No Conversion.' Using no makes the sentence sound more cohesive and is preferred in written or formal spoken Japanese.
- Modifying a Person
- 能力の高い学生 (A highly capable student)
- Modifying a Group
- 能力の高いチーム (A highly capable team)
- Comparative Use
- より能力の高い人材 (More highly capable talent)
このプロジェクトには、能力の高いスタッフが必要です。(This project requires highly capable staff.)
You can also use the phrase at the end of a sentence by switching back to ga. For example: Kanojo wa nōryoku ga takai (She is highly capable). While nōryoku no takai is the attributive form (used before nouns), nōryoku ga takai is the predicative form (used to end sentences). This distinction is vital for sounding natural. Additionally, you can intensify the phrase with adverbs like hijō ni (extremely) or kiwamete (exceedingly). For instance, hijō ni nōryoku no takai jimbutsu means 'an extremely capable individual.' This level of detail in description allows for precise evaluation in business reports or academic recommendations.
彼女のような能力の高い人は、どこでも成功するだろう。(A highly capable person like her would likely succeed anywhere.)
The phrase 能力の高い is a staple of Japanese professional life. You will encounter it most frequently in corporate environments, particularly during recruitment processes, performance reviews, and strategic planning meetings. When a company discusses their 'ideal candidate profile,' they almost always specify that they are looking for nōryoku no takai jinzai (highly capable human resources). It is also a common term in news reports discussing societal trends, such as the 'brain drain' of talented individuals or the need for highly skilled workers in the tech industry. In academic settings, professors might use it to describe students who show exceptional promise or who have mastered difficult concepts quickly.
- TV News & Media
- Discussing the need for 'highly capable' workers to boost the economy.
- Office Meetings
- Managers evaluating team members for promotions or special assignments.
- Job Listings
- Listing qualifications for senior or specialized roles.
最近の若者は、ITスキルの面で非常に能力の高い人が多い。(There are many young people these days who are highly capable in terms of IT skills.)
Beyond the professional sphere, you might hear this in documentaries or biographies when describing historical figures or geniuses. It carries a tone of respect and objective assessment. It is less likely to be heard in a casual chat between friends about a video game or a hobby, where words like umai (skillful) or sugoi (amazing) are more appropriate. However, if the conversation turns to someone's career prospects or their overall potential as a professional, nōryoku no takai becomes the natural choice. It provides a level of gravitas that simple adjectives lack, signaling that the speaker is making a serious judgment about someone's worth or talent.
彼は能力の高い経営者として知られている。(He is known as a highly capable business manager.)
One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing 能力の高い with jōzu na (skillful). While both describe someone doing something well, jōzu na is usually for specific, visible skills like speaking a language, playing an instrument, or cooking. Nōryoku no takai, on the other hand, refers to a more generalized, internal capacity or professional caliber. You wouldn't say someone is 'nōryoku no takai' at tennis; you'd say they are 'tenisu ga umai.' Use nōryoku no takai for broader concepts like management, problem-solving, or general professional competence. Another common error is using no when ending a sentence. You must say nōryoku ga takai when it is the main predicate.
- Mistake: Nōryoku no takai desu
- Correction: Nōryoku ga takai desu. (The 'no' is only for noun modification.)
- Mistake: Cooking nōryoku no takai
- Correction: Ryōri ga umai. (Use 'umai' or 'jōzu' for specific hobbies/tasks.)
- Mistake: Nōryoku no hikui
- Warning: While grammatically correct, this is very rude and should be used with extreme caution.
❌ 彼はテニスが能力が高い。 (Incorrect usage for sports skills.)
Learners also sometimes forget the kanji for nōryoku (能力). The first kanji nō (能) is the same one used in 'Noh' theater, representing talent or performance, while ryoku (力) is the kanji for 'power' or 'strength.' Writing them correctly is essential for B1 level proficiency. Finally, avoid overusing the phrase. While it is a high compliment, using it too often can make your speech sound like a HR manual. Mix it up with synonyms like yūshū na (excellent) or yūnō na (talented) to sound more natural and varied in your descriptions of people.
✅ 彼はビジネスにおいて非常に能力の高い人だ。(Correct: He is a very capable person in business.)
Japanese has several words to describe capability, each with a slightly different flavor. Understanding these differences is key to reaching B1 and B2 levels of fluency. While 能力の高い is broad and professional, yūnō na (有能な) focuses specifically on being 'able' or 'efficient' in a workplace context. Yūshū na (優秀な) is perhaps the most common alternative, often translated as 'excellent' or 'superior,' and is used for students with high grades or workers with top-tier performance. Dekiru (できる), which literally means 'can do,' is a more colloquial way to say someone is 'capable' or 'sharp' (e.g., dekiru hito).
- 有能な (Yūnō na)
- Focuses on practical efficiency and talent. Often used for 'capable' employees.
- 優秀な (Yūshū na)
- Focuses on being at the top of a group. Common for students and elite professionals.
- 卓越した (Takuetsu shita)
- Formal and strong. Means 'outstanding' or 'preeminent.' Used for world-class experts.
彼女はクラスで最も優秀な学生だ。(She is the most excellent student in the class.)
Another interesting alternative is kiremono (切れ者), which describes someone who is 'sharp' or 'shrewd,' often in a tactical or business sense. If you want to emphasize that someone has a lot of 'potential' rather than just current ability, you might use potensharu no takai (ポテンシャルの高い). For someone who is physically or technically skilled in a craft, ude no ii (腕のいい - literally 'good arm') is the perfect idiomatic choice. Choosing the right word depends on whether you want to sound formal, casual, or specifically focused on a certain type of excellence. Nōryoku no takai remains the safest, most versatile choice for formal descriptions of overall talent.
彼は非常に有能な弁護士だ。(He is a very capable/talented lawyer.)
豆知識
The kanji 'Nō' (能) is also the name of Japan's oldest theatrical art form, Noh. This is because the performers were required to have exceptional specialized 'ability.'
発音ガイド
- Pronouncing 'ryo' as two syllables 'ri-yo'. It should be a single glide.
- Stressing syllables like in English. Japanese syllables have equal length.
- Mispronouncing 'no' as 'nu' or 'na'.
- Failing to make the 'o' in 'nō' long enough.
- Pronouncing 'takai' as 'taki' or 'takay'.
レベル別の例文
彼は能力の高い人です。
He is a highly capable person.
Simple A is B sentence structure.
能力の高い学生がいます。
There is a highly capable student.
Using the phrase to modify 'student'.
彼女は能力が高いです。
She is highly capable.
Predicative use with 'ga'.
能力の高いチームです。
It is a highly capable team.
Modifying a group noun.
その人は能力が高いですか?
Is that person highly capable?
Question form.
能力の高い先生に会いました。
I met a highly capable teacher.
Modifying 'teacher' in a past tense sentence.
能力の高い人はすごいです。
Highly capable people are amazing.
Topic marker 'wa' following the modified noun.
能力の高い友達がほしいです。
I want a highly capable friend.
Expressing desire with 'hoshii'.
能力の高いスタッフを探しています。
We are looking for highly capable staff.
Using '-te iru' for ongoing search.
彼は能力が高いので、仕事が早いです。
Because he is highly capable, his work is fast.
Using 'node' to show reason.
能力の高い人と一緒に働きたいです。
I want to work with highly capable people.
Using 'to issho ni' (together with).
彼女は能力の高いリーダーになるでしょう。
She will probably become a highly capable leader.
Using 'deshō' for probability.
もっと能力の高い人になりたいです。
I want to become a more highly capable person.
Using 'motto' (more) for comparison.
能力の高い人は、いつも忙しいです。
Highly capable people are always busy.
Generalizing about a group.
この会社には能力の高い人が多いです。
There are many highly capable people in this company.
Using 'ooi' (many).
能力の高い人は、難しい問題も解けます。
Highly capable people can solve difficult problems too.
Potential verb 'tokeru' (can solve).
能力の高い人材を確保することが重要です。
It is important to secure highly capable talent.
Noun phrase 'koto' as a subject.
能力の高い彼なら、この仕事を任せられます。
If it's him, who is highly capable, we can entrust this job to him.
Appositive-like use of 'nōryoku no takai'.
能力の高い社員には、ボーナスが支給されます。
Bonuses are paid to highly capable employees.
Passive voice 'shikyū saremasu'.
彼は能力が高いだけでなく、性格もいいです。
He is not only highly capable but also has a good personality.
Using 'dake de naku' (not only).
能力の高い人が集まれば、何でも可能です。
If highly capable people gather, anything is possible.
Conditional 'ba' form.
非常に能力の高いエンジニアがチームに加わった。
An extremely capable engineer joined the team.
Using 'hijō ni' as an intensifier.
能力の高い人は、自分の弱点も知っています。
Highly capable people also know their own weaknesses.
Reflexive pronoun 'jibun'.
彼は能力が高いと評判です。
He has a reputation for being highly capable.
Using 'to hyōban' (reputed to be).
能力の高い人材の流出が懸念されている。
The outflow of highly capable talent is being concerned.
Formal passive 'ken-en saretiru'.
彼は能力の高い若手として期待されている。
He is expected to succeed as a highly capable young person.
Using 'toshite' (as/in the capacity of).
能力の高い人ほど、謙虚であるべきだ。
The more capable a person is, the more humble they should be.
Using 'hodo' (the more...).
能力の高いスタッフを育成するためのプログラム。
A program for training highly capable staff.
Using 'tame no' (for the purpose of).
彼女の能力が高いことは疑いようがない。
There is no doubt that her ability is high.
Formal expression 'utagai yō ga nai'.
能力の高い個人が組織を動かす時代だ。
It is an era where highly capable individuals move organizations.
Relative clause modifying 'jidai' (era).
彼は能力が高いが、協調性に欠けるところがある。
He is highly capable, but he lacks cooperativeness in some areas.
Contrastive 'ga' and 'ni kakeru'.
能力の高い人材を適材適所に配置する。
Place highly capable talent in the right positions.
Four-character idiom 'tekizai tekisho'.
極めて能力の高い専門家たちがプロジェクトに結集した。
Exceedingly capable experts gathered for the project.
Using 'kiwamete' (exceedingly).
能力の高い人材をいかに活用するかが鍵となる。
How to utilize highly capable talent will be the key.
Using 'ikani... ka' (how...).
彼は能力の高い経営者として、数々の再建を成し遂げた。
As a highly capable manager, he achieved numerous turnarounds.
Formal verb 'nashitogeru'.
能力の高い個人が、既存の枠組みを打破していく。
Highly capable individuals will break down existing frameworks.
Using 'daha suru' (to break down).
学業成績だけでなく、潜在的に能力の高い生徒を評価する。
Evaluate students who are potentially highly capable, not just those with good grades.
Adverbial 'sen-zai teki ni' (potentially).
能力の高い層をターゲットにしたマーケティング戦略。
A marketing strategy targeting the highly capable segment.
Using 'sō' (segment/stratum).
彼は能力が高いゆえに、周囲からの期待も大きい。
Because he is highly capable, expectations from those around him are also great.
Formal reason 'yuen ni'.
能力の高い者が必ずしも幸福であるとは限らない。
Those who are highly capable are not necessarily happy.
Partial negation 'to wa kagiranai'.
卓越した見識を備えた、極めて能力の高い人物である。
He is an exceedingly capable person equipped with outstanding insight.
Combining multiple high-level modifiers.
能力の高い人材の偏在が、地域格差を助長している。
The uneven distribution of highly capable talent is exacerbating regional disparities.
Advanced vocabulary 'henzai' and 'jojo'.
彼は、能力の高い部下を使いこなす術を心得ている。
He knows the art of managing/utilizing highly capable subordinates.
Advanced verb 'tsukaikonasu' and 'kokoroete iru'.
能力の高い個人を組織の論理で縛るべきではない。
Highly capable individuals should not be bound by organizational logic.
Abstract concept 'soshiki no ronri'.
知的能力の高いAIの台頭が、労働市場に激変をもたらす。
The rise of highly intellectually capable AI will bring drastic changes to the labor market.
Compound modifier 'chi-teki nōryoku'.
能力の高い人材を惹きつける魅力的なビジョンが必要だ。
An attractive vision to draw in highly capable talent is necessary.
Using 'hikkitsukeru' (to attract).
彼は能力が高いと自負しているが、独りよがりな面も目立つ。
He prides himself on being highly capable, but his self-centered side is also prominent.
Using 'jifu suru' (to be proud of).
能力の高い市民が政治に参画することが、民主主義の根幹である。
The participation of highly capable citizens in politics is the foundation of democracy.
Formal noun 'konkan' (root/foundation).
よく使う組み合わせ
よく使うフレーズ
— In order of high ability.
能力の高い順にチームを分ける。
— The more capable a person is...
能力の高い人ほど謙虚だ。
— Considered to be highly capable.
彼は能力の高いとされる人物だ。
— Securing highly capable talent.
能力の高い人材の確保が急務だ。
— To be regarded as highly capable.
彼は周囲から能力が高いと見なされている。
— Highly capable young person.
能力の高い若手を積極的に採用する。
— Cannot help but say they are highly capable.
彼の成果を見ると、能力が高いと言わざるを得ない。
— Highly capable individual.
能力の高い個人を尊重する。
— Highly capable segment/group.
能力の高い層に向けたサービス。
— Highly capable expert.
能力の高い専門家のアドバイスを受ける。
慣用句と表現
— A person of great ability does not show off. (Literally: The talented hawk hides its claws.)
彼は能ある鷹は爪を隠すタイプだ。
Proverb— To be recognized as superior or capable by others.
彼は能力の高いエンジニアとして一目置かれている。
Neutral— To display one's ability or skill fully.
彼は能力の高いシェフとして腕を振るった。
Neutral— To distinguish oneself; to stand out for one's ability.
彼は能力の高い若手として頭角を現した。
Formal— Multi-talented; having many abilities.
彼は能力の高い、多才な人物だ。
Neutral— To give a guarantee of someone's ability or quality.
社長も彼の能力の高さに太鼓判を押した。
Idiomatic— To boast about one's ability (Negative).
彼は能力が高いが、それを鼻にかける。
Informal— To reach a new level of ability or maturity.
彼は研修を経て、能力の高い社員として一皮むけた。
Neutral— To have an expert eye for quality or ability.
能力の高い人を見抜くとは、君も目が高いね。
Neutral— To be in great demand due to high ability.
能力の高い彼は、どの会社からも引く手あまただ。
Neutral語族
名詞
動詞
形容詞
関連
暗記しよう
記憶術
Think of 'Nō' as 'Know' (to have knowledge) and 'Ryoku' as 'Rock' (strength). A person who 'Knows Rocks' is highly capable! Plus 'Takai' sounds like 'Tie' (a high-flying tie in a business suit).
視覚的連想
Imagine a person standing on top of a giant battery (representing power/ability) that is very tall (high).
Word Web
チャレンジ
Try to find three LinkedIn profiles of people you admire and describe them in Japanese using 'nōryoku no takai'.
語源
Composed of 'Nō' (能 - meaning talent, performance, or ability) and 'Ryoku' (力 - meaning power, strength, or force). The kanji 'Nō' originally depicted a bear, symbolizing strength and ability. 'Ryoku' depicted a plow, representing the physical power needed for labor.
元の意味: The phrase literally translates to 'Ability is high.'
Sinitic origin (Kango) for 'Nōryoku', combined with a native Japanese adjective 'Takai'.文化的な背景
In English, we might say 'highly skilled' or 'very talented.' 'Highly capable' is a bit more formal, just like the Japanese phrase.
Summary
The phrase '能力の高い' (nōryoku no takai) is a formal and respectful way to describe someone as 'highly capable.' It is best used in professional contexts to highlight a person's overall talent and efficiency, rather than just a specific hobby or skill.
- Used to describe people with high professional or intellectual skills.
- Common in business, recruitment, and formal academic settings.
- Grammatically uses 'no' instead of 'ga' when modifying a noun.
- A respectful and objective way to praise someone's competence.
例文
能力の高い人材がチームに必要だ。
関連コンテンツ
この単語を他の言語で
academicの関連語
絶対的
B2他の何物とも比較されず、それ自体で独立して存在するさま。無条件で、完全なさま。
絶対的に
B1他の何物とも比較されず、それ自体で価値や性質が決まっているさま。無条件に。
抽象的だ
B1Abstract; existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.
抽象
B2物理的または具体的な実体を持たず、思考の中や観念として存在するさま。特定の詳細から離れて、物事の本質を一般化または抽出することを指します。 (抽象的な芸術が一般的な例です。)
抽象的に
B1抽象的・理論的な方法で。具体的な物ではなく、アイデアや概念に対して使われます。
学術的な
B1学問や学術に関するさま。大学や研究機関での専門的な研究や理論に関わること。
学術的だ
B1学問や術芸に関するさま。特に、大学などの研究機関における専門的な研究に関わること。
学術的
B2Academic; relating to education and scholarship.
学術
B1学術。学問や研究といった、知的な探求や体系的な学習の世界。
学力
B1学力とは、学校教育を通じて身につけた知識や能力のことです。