手際よい

• Reading: てぎわよい
• Romaji: tegiwayoi
• Kanji breakdown: 手際 (tegiwa) — skill, workmanship, manner of execution; よい — good
• Pronunciation: /te.ɡi.wa.jo.i/

Meaning

Skilful; efficient; deft; adroit. Describes someone who handles tasks with impressive competence, speed, and precision.

An i-adjective compound formed from 手際 (tegiwa, skill, workmanship, the manner of using one's hands) and よい (yoi, good). The adverbial form 手際よく (tegiwayoku) is very commonly used to describe smooth, professional execution. It implies not just technical skill but also graceful efficiency—getting things done with no wasted motion.

Examples

1. 彼女は手際よく食材を切り分け、料理を次々と仕上げていった。 She chopped the ingredients with deft efficiency and turned out one dish after another.
2. 救助隊員は手際よい判断で、全員を安全な場所へ誘導した。 The rescue worker's swift, skilled judgement guided everyone to safety.
3. 引っ越し業者が手際よく荷物を搬入し、予定より一時間早く終わった。 The removal crew loaded the boxes with impressive efficiency and finished a full hour ahead of schedule.

Usage Guide

Context: work, cooking, professional skills, compliment

Tone: positive

Origin & History

Compound of 手際 (tegiwa, the manner or skill of one's hands, workmanship) and よい (yoi, good). 手際 itself derives from 手 (te, hand) and 際 (giwa, edge, margin, the point of action).

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal