よくできました
yoku dekimashita[jo̞kɯ̟ de̞kʲima̠ɕi̥ta̠]
よくできました (yoku dekimashita) is the Japanese way to say "you did well".
This phrase is used to praise someone for completing a task successfully. It is most commonly associated with the feedback given on schoolwork or by parents to children.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of yoku (well) and dekimashita (was able to do/completed).
Which one should you use?
While よくできました is polite, the shorter yoku dekita is the casual version used with children or close friends.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
よくできました is in the polite form, making it suitable for use by teachers or superiors to students or subordinates.
How do you pronounce it?
yoku dekimashita
When do people say it?
In Japanese elementary schools, this phrase is often seen on stamps or stickers used to praise a student's work.
Did you know?
- Because よくできました implies a hierarchy, saying it to a boss or teacher can be seen as incredibly rude or condescending. In such cases, Japanese speakers use the phrase お疲れ様でした to acknowledge hard work instead.
- In Japanese media like anime, the concept of a よくできました stamp is often used as a tool for mockery. It is frequently employed to ironically lampoon a character who is behaving too obediently or acting like a 'good boy' or 'good girl'.
- The verb できる inside this phrase is uniquely versatile, meaning both 'to be able to' and 'to be built' or 'to be completed'. This allows the phrase to simultaneously praise the person's skill and the quality of the result.
Examples in context
- テスト、よくできましたね。Tesuto, yoku dekimashita ne.You did well on the test.
- 宿題、よくできました。Shukudai, yoku dekimashita.You did a good job on your homework.
Example conversation
A teacher is praising a student's drawing.
- 陽太 Yota結衣さん、いい絵ですね。Yui-san, ii e desu ne.Yui, this is a nice picture.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとうございます！arigatou gozaimasu!Thank you very much!
- 陽太 Yotaよくできました。yoku dekimashita.You did well.
- 結衣 Yui嬉しいです。ureshii desu.I am happy.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry よくできました, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
