Meaning

Primary

To Excel

Alternative

To Surpass

Word Type

intransitive verb, ichidan verb

Explanation

Because the hiragana ends with an sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means excel so the verb vocab version is to excel.

Reading

ひいでる
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you:

"He-e (ひい) is going to excel," you stutter. "He-e is!"

Context

Context Sentences

この大学には、一芸に秀でる学生は別ルートで入学することができる。

Students who excel in a particular field can enter this university through a different route.

サトミは、自分の考えを表現することに秀でている。

Satomi excels at expressing her thoughts.

私は鼻くそをほじくることだけには秀でています。実際、鼻血を出すはめになったこともありません。

The only thing I excel at is picking my nose. In fact, I have never made my nose bleed.

Kanji Composition