お見事！
omigoto!
Bravo! Excellent!
Phrase in 30 Seconds
A sophisticated way to say 'Bravo!' or 'Masterful!' when someone performs a task with exceptional skill or grace.
- Means: 'Splendidly done' or 'A beautiful performance' (literally 'worth seeing').
- Used in: Sports, arts, high-stakes business, or witnessing a clever solution.
- Don't confuse: Avoid using it for small, everyday chores like washing dishes.
Explanation at your level:
Meaning
Expressing strong admiration or praise for someone's skill or achievement.
Cultural Background
In traditional sports, 'Omigoto' is used by commentators to describe a 'clean' win where the technique was applied perfectly according to the rules of form. Japanese craftsmen value the 'unseen' parts of their work. To be told 'Omigoto' by a peer is the highest honor, acknowledging that the invisible effort has resulted in visible perfection. In Osaka and surrounding areas, 'Omigoto' is frequently used with a sharp, rising intonation to mock someone who has failed in a particularly obvious or stupid way. In 'Jidaigeki' (period dramas), a lord might say 'Omigoto' to a samurai who has successfully carried out a difficult mission or displayed great swordsmanship.
The 'Desu' Rule
Always add 'desu' or 'deshita' when speaking to someone you aren't very close with. Just 'Omigoto!' can sound a bit too assertive or 'judge-like.'
Sarcasm Warning
Be careful with your tone. If you say it too slowly or with a smirk, it will definitely be taken as sarcasm.
Meaning
Expressing strong admiration or praise for someone's skill or achievement.
The 'Desu' Rule
Always add 'desu' or 'deshita' when speaking to someone you aren't very close with. Just 'Omigoto!' can sound a bit too assertive or 'judge-like.'
Sarcasm Warning
Be careful with your tone. If you say it too slowly or with a smirk, it will definitely be taken as sarcasm.
Test Yourself
Choose the most natural situation to use '{お見事|おみごと}！'
Which of these situations fits best?
'Omigoto' is for praising a skillful achievement, like solving a difficult technical problem.
Complete the sentence with the correct form.
{彼|かれ}は（ ）にその{難問|なんもん}を{解|と}いた。
We need the adverbial form 'ni' to modify the verb 'tokita' (solved).
Fill in the blank in the dialogue.
A: 「{最後|さいご}の10{秒|びょう}で{逆転|ぎゃくてん}ホームランだ！」 B: 「（ ）！{感動|かんどう}したよ！」
A home run is a feat of skill, making 'Omigoto' the perfect praise.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
When to say Omigoto!
Sports
- • Hole-in-one
- • Perfect save
- • Home run
Work
- • Perfect code
- • Great pitch
- • Quick fix
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questionsIt's better to avoid it. Use 'Kanshin shimashita' or 'Benkyou ni narimashita' to show respect without sounding like you are grading them.
'Omigoto' is the exclamation. 'Migoto' is the base word used as an adjective (migoto-na) or adverb (migoto-ni).
Yes, especially by villains or mentors when a protagonist pulls off a surprising move.
Related Phrases
{流石|さすが}
similarAs expected of you.
あっぱれ
synonymSplendid! / Bravo!
{素晴|すば}らしい
similarWonderful / Amazing.
{一本|いっぽん}！
specialized formYou got me! / Full point!
Where to Use It
Watching a Sports Match
Fan A: 今のシュート、見た？
Fan B: ああ、{お見事|おみごと}だったね！
At the Office
Manager: トラブルを{一瞬|いっしゅん}で{解決|かいけつ}しましたね。
Staff: ありがとうございます。
Manager: {本当|ほんとう}に{お見事|おみごと}です。
Art Gallery
Visitor: この{色彩|しきさい}の{使|つか}い{方|かた}は、{実|じつ}に{見事|みごと}ですね。
Guide: はい、{作家|さっか}のこだわりが{感|かん}じられます。
Cooking at Home
Partner: 見て、オムレツがきれいに包めた！
You: おお、{お見事|おみごと}！プロみたい。
Sarcastic Reaction
Friend A: またスマホの{画面|がめん}、{割|わ}っちゃった。
Friend B: {今月|こんげつ}で3{回目|かいめ}？{お見事|おみごと}だね...
Martial Arts Dojo
Sensei: 今の{技|わざ}、{腰|こし}の入れ方が{お見事|おみごと}でした。
Student: ありがとうございます！
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think: 'Oh, Me Go To see the master!' (O-mi-go-to). You go to see a master because their work is worth seeing.
Visual Association
Imagine a master archer hitting the center of a target with a cherry blossom petal falling perfectly in the background. The crowd shouts 'Omigoto!'
Rhyme
When the skill is high and the show is bright, say 'Omigoto' to get it right!
Story
A young apprentice spent ten years carving a single wooden dragon. When the master finally saw it, he didn't just say 'good,' he bowed and whispered, 'Omigoto.' The apprentice knew then he had reached perfection.
Word Web
Challenge
Next time you see a high-level play in a video game or a sports match, shout 'Omigoto!' out loud to practice the timing.
In Other Languages
¡Qué maestría!
Spanish uses '¡Bravo!' more generally for any good performance.
Chapeau !
French focuses on the act of tipping a hat, Japanese on the act of seeing something beautiful.
Meisterhaft!
German is often used as an adjective, while Japanese is frequently a standalone exclamation.
精彩！ (Jīngcǎi!)
Chinese is used more for the 'excitement' of the event, Japanese for the 'perfection' of it.
훌륭합니다! (Hullyunghamnida!)
Korean is a bit more general, whereas 'Omigoto' has a specific aesthetic 'visual' history.
أحسنت صنعاً! (Ahsanta sun'an!)
Arabic focuses on the 'doing' (sun'an), Japanese on the 'seeing' (mi).
Primoroso!
Portuguese sounds very high-literary, while 'Omigoto' is common in sports.
Masterful!
English speakers say 'Nice!' or 'Great!' 90% of the time, whereas Japanese speakers use 'Omigoto' specifically for high-skill moments.
Easily Confused
Both praise skill.
Jozu is for general ability (You are good at Japanese). Omigoto is for a specific achievement (That speech was masterful).
Both mean 'great.'
Sugoi is a gut reaction (Wow!). Omigoto is a respectful acknowledgment of quality.
FAQ (3)
It's better to avoid it. Use 'Kanshin shimashita' or 'Benkyou ni narimashita' to show respect without sounding like you are grading them.
'Omigoto' is the exclamation. 'Migoto' is the base word used as an adjective (migoto-na) or adverb (migoto-ni).
Yes, especially by villains or mentors when a protagonist pulls off a surprising move.
