watashi wa nihongo o jouzu ni hanashimasu.

Word
私わたし　は　日本語にほんご　を　上手じょうず　に　話はなします。watashi wa nihongo o jouzu ni hanashimasu.
Meaning
I speak Japanese well.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Hardcore Japanese
Lesson
Lesson 20
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Questions & Answers about watashi wa nihongo o jouzu ni hanashimasu.

What do the particles は and を do in this sentence?
  • は marks the topic: 私 (I/me) is what the sentence is about.
  • を marks the direct object: 日本語 is the thing being spoken.
  • Structure: Topic は + Object を + manner + Verb.
Why does 上手 need に here?
  • 上手 (じょうず) is a na-adjective. To make a na-adjective modify a verb (i.e., become an adverb), add に: 上手に.
  • Compare: i-adjectives make adverbs with く (e.g., 速い → 速く).
Could I say 日本語が上手です instead? What’s the difference?
  • 日本語が上手です = “I’m good at Japanese” (overall ability with the language).
  • 日本語を上手に話します = “I speak Japanese well” (specifically the act of speaking).
Is this sentence natural to say about myself?
  • It’s grammatical, but self-praise with 上手 can sound boastful in Japanese.
  • Softer, common alternatives:
    • 日本語は少し話せます。 (I can speak a little.)
    • 日本語はまだ勉強中です。 (I’m still learning.)
    • 日本語はまあまあ話せます。 (I can speak it okay.)
Can I drop 私?
  • Yes. If it’s clear you’re talking about yourself, just say 日本語を上手に話します.
  • You can also topicalize the language: 日本語は上手に話します (As for Japanese, I speak it well), which contrasts Japanese with other languages.
Why not use 話せます instead of 話します?
  • 話します = “speak” (habitual/regular action).
  • 話せます (potential) = “can speak.”
  • With potential verbs, the object is usually marked by が: 日本語が話せます.
Why is it 日本語を and not 日本語で?
  • 日本語で話します = “speak in Japanese” (Japanese as the means/instrument). This is the most common way to say it in everyday conversation.
  • 日本語を話します treats the language as the direct object (“speak Japanese”). It’s correct and natural in many contexts (e.g., 英語を話す人), and works here too, though で is more default when focusing on the act of conversing.
Can I change the word order?
  • Yes. All are grammatical with slight emphasis shifts:
    • 日本語を上手に話します
    • 上手に日本語を話します (emphasizes the manner first)
    • 日本語は上手に話します (contrastive topic)
How do I pronounce these words?
  • 私: わたし (watashi)
  • 日本語: にほんご (nihongo)
  • 上手: じょうず (jōzu) in this meaning (“skillful”). Not うわて.
  • 話します: はなします (hanashimasu)
What politeness level is 話します?
  • 話します is polite (ます-form).
  • Plain/casual is 話す. Example: 日本語を上手に話す.
How do I say it in the negative or past?
  • Negative (polite): 日本語を上手に話しません。
  • Past (polite): 日本語を上手に話しました。
  • Negative potential (polite): 日本語を上手に話せません。
What’s the opposite of 上手?
  • 下手 (へた) = not good/poor at (neutral/straight).
  • 苦手 (にがて) = weak at/poor at and tend to avoid or dislike (softer, often used about oneself).
Can I use うまく instead of 上手に?
  • Yes. うまく話します ≈ 上手に話します.
  • うまい/うまく is more casual; note うまい also means “tasty.”
Is 上手 a noun or an adjective?
  • It’s a na-adjective/nominal adjective.
  • Before nouns: 上手な人 (a skillful person). As a predicate: 上手です. As an adverb: 上手に.
Why do textbooks say 日本語が話せます instead of 日本語を話せます?
  • With potential verbs (like 話せる), the thing that would normally take を often switches to が.
  • So: 日本語が話せます is the standard pattern.
What’s the difference between 話す, しゃべる, and 言う?
  • 話す: to speak/talk (neutral, general).
  • しゃべる: to chat/blab (more casual/colloquial).
  • 言う: to say/utter specific words.
Can I say 私は日本語は上手に話します?
  • Double-topic XはYは… is possible when contrasting Y with something else (e.g., Japanese vs. other languages).
  • Without clear contrast, it can sound awkward. Usually use just one は.
How do I say “very well” or “pretty well”?
  • とても上手に話します (very well)
  • かなり上手に話します (quite well)
  • けっこう上手に話します (pretty well; modest)
Why are there spaces between the words?
  • They’re for learners. Standard Japanese writing does not use spaces between words.