やり手

• Reading: やりて
• Romaji: yarite
• Kanji breakdown: 手 (te/shu) — hand, agent suffix
• Pronunciation: /ja.ɾi.te/

Meaning

Go-getter; capable person; shrewd operator. Refers to someone who is exceptionally skilled, driven, and effective at achieving results.

A noun that combines やる (to do) with 手 (person, hand), literally 'a doer'. It carries admiration for someone who gets things done efficiently and shrewdly, often in business or negotiation. Unlike 有能 (competent), やり手 implies drive and cunning as well as skill — and may carry a faint edge of ruthlessness or pushiness in certain contexts.

Examples

1. 彼女はやり手の営業担当として、入社三年で部署トップの実績を残した。 As a go-getter in sales, she achieved the top results in her department within three years of joining the company.
2. あの社長はやり手と評判で、どんな交渉でも有利に進める術を心得ている。 That company president is known as a shrewd operator who knows how to steer any negotiation in his favor.
3. やり手の上司のもとで働くのは刺激的だが、ペースについていくのが大変だ。 Working under a capable boss is stimulating, but keeping up with the pace is tough.

Usage Guide

Context: business, workplace, social commentary

Tone: admiring

Origin & History

Compound of the verb やる (to do, to carry out) and 手 (te/shu — hand, person). The 'hand' here functions as an agent suffix, a pattern shared with words like 歌い手 (singer) and 書き手 (writer). The compound emphasises the active, hands-on nature of the capable person.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Business