1Skilled; proficient; good at something. A na-adjective describing a person or their ability; the opposite of 下手 (poor at).
彼はピアノがとても上手だ。
He is very good at the piano.
日本語が上手ですね。どこで勉強したんですか。
Your Japanese is good. Where did you study it?
母は料理が上手で、いつもおいしいご飯を作ってくれる。
My mother is good at cooking and always makes delicious meals for us.
もっと上手に説明できればよかったと思う。
I wish I could have explained it more skillfully.
子どもが思ったより上手に絵を描いて驚いた。
I was surprised at how skillfully my child drew the picture.
2Flattery; complimentary or ingratiating words, typically in the forms お上手 or 上手を言う.
まあ、お上手ね。でも本気にしないわよ。
Oh, you flatterer. But I won't take it seriously.
彼は上手を言って、うまく相手を持ち上げる。
He flatters people, skillfully buttering them up.