Japanese with Manga

Getting good grades in school with 成績

Kanji Explanation: Becoming and accomplishing with 成

Manga panel from からかい上手の（元）高木さん showing example of Getting good grades in school with 成績.
からかい上手の（元）高木さん » Volume 13 » Page 44

Yukari stops by the preschool where Mina works, just as Takagi is there picking up her daughter. Yukari compares her life with theirs.

ユカリ:
「高木(たかぎ)ちゃんは成績(せいせき)よくて　しっかりしてたし、」
“Takagi-chan got good grades and had it together.”
Literal: “Takagi-chan's grades were good, and she was dependable.”
「ミナは料理(りょうり)が得意(とくい)だったりするじゃない。」
“And Mina's good at cooking and such, right?”
Literal: “And Mina is good at cooking and things, isn't she?”

Key Points

1成績(せいせき) means grades or performance results
  • In school contexts, 成績(せいせき) usually means overall grades or academic performance.
  • It is broader than one single test score.
2成績(せいせき)よくて is a casual shortening of 成績(せいせき)がよくて
  • The subject marker が is omitted in natural speech.
  • 〜て links two qualities together, so she is saying Takagi got good grades and was dependable.
3The second line softens the comparison with shared-ground language
  • 〜じゃない here is not a real question but a reminder that the listener already knows this.
  • 〜たりする makes Mina’s cooking skill sound like one example among her good points.
  • ちゃん is an affectionate, informal suffix attached to names, used mainly for children, close friends, and family members.

Vocabulary

(Grades)

成績(せいせき) means results, grades, or performance at school or work.

(Cuisine)

料理(りょうり) means cooking, cuisine, or a dish. It can refer to making food or to the food you make.

(Specialty)

得意(とくい) describes something you are good at. It can also mean feeling proud or pleased with yourself.

See Also

からかい上手の（元）高木さん © its respective creators. It is used here for educational commentary.