Japanese word

下手

Pronunciation

Romajiheta

Meaning

  • na-adjectivepoor, bad at ___

Example

私は料理が下手です。watashi wa ryō ri ga heta de su

I am poor at cooking.

Illustration for 下手 (poor)

More examples

私は絵が下手です。watashi wa e ga heta de su

I am bad at drawing.

彼は人に頼むのが下手です。kare wa hito ni tano mu no ga heta de su

He is poor at asking people for help.

Core concept

It presents someone's ability or execution as noticeably lacking the skill needed to do something well.

Common phrases

  • 下手な料理heta na ryō ri

    poor cooking

Similar words

苦手nigate: Describes a person who has difficulty with a particular activity or task.
不器用fukiyō: Describes a person who performs tasks awkwardly because of limited skill.

Definition in Japanese

あることをうまく行う力が不足しているさま。a ru ko to o u ma ku okona u chikara ga fu soku shi te i ru sa ma

Word origin

The origin of 下手 (heta, "poor at something") is uncertain; it is written with 下 (shita, "lower") and 手 (te, "hand"), but their character meanings do not confirm the word's origin.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 下手 (heta) usually describes limited skill in an activity, so it can sound more personal when directed at someone else's ability.

Other meanings

  • awkwardna-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 下手さhetasalack of skillnoun

Word lists with this word