Proverb / Kotowaza
好きこそ物の上手なれ
People naturally become proficient at things they enjoy because they practice them with enthusiasm.
Precisely because one likes something, one becomes skilled at it
Quick Answer
People naturally become proficient at things they enjoy because they practice them with enthusiasm.
- Literal Image
- Precisely because one likes something, one becomes skilled at it
- Closest Equivalent
- Nothing is hard to a willing mind
- How to Use It
- Used to encourage someone to pursue their interests or to explain why someone has reached a high level of skill through a hobby or dedicated practice.
Meaning
When you have a genuine interest in an activity, you naturally devote more time and effort to it without feeling like it is a chore. This enthusiastic and consistent practice eventually leads to mastery and high skill levels. It suggests that passion and enjoyment are the most important factors for improvement in any field.
Literal Image
Precisely because one likes something, one becomes skilled at it
Equivalent Proverbs
Nothing is hard to a willing mind
Focuses on how willingness makes tasks easier to master.
Who likes not his business, his business likes not him
A negative phrasing of the same principle regarding passion for one's work.
How to Use It
Used to encourage someone to pursue their interests or to explain why someone has reached a high level of skill through a hobby or dedicated practice.
Tone
Positive and encouraging.
Examples
毎日欠かさず絵を描いている息子を見ると、好きこそ物の上手なれだと実感する。
Looking at my son drawing every single day, I really feel that passion is the key to improvement.
趣味で始めたプログラミングが仕事になったのは、好きこそ物の上手なれの典型だ。
The fact that the programming I started as a hobby became my job is a classic example of becoming good at what you love.
嫌々やっても上達しない。好きこそ物の上手なれというように、まず楽しむことが大事だ。
You won't improve if you do it unwillingly. As the saying goes, it's important to enjoy it first if you want to get better.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The vocabulary 'suki' and 'jouzu' is very basic, but the 'koso... nare' structure is a classical emphatic construction.
好き
すき / suki
liking; fondness
こそ
koso
emphatic particle (precisely; indeed)
物
もの / mono
thing; matter
上手
じょうず / jouzu
skilled; proficient
Usage Profile
Usage note: While encouraging, it should not be used to dismiss the hard work required to achieve mastery.
Misread Risk
Do not confuse this with its opposite, 'Heta no yokozuki', which describes loving something without being good at it.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.