Japanese word

苦手

Pronunciation

Romajinigate

Meaning

  • na-adjectivenot very good at

Example

私は数学が苦手です。watashi wa sū gaku ga niga te de su

I am not very good at math.

Illustration for 苦手 (not very good at)

More examples

私は算数が苦手です。watashi wa san sū ga niga te de su

I am not very good at math.

弟は知らない人に話しかけるのが苦手です。otōto wa shi ra na i hito ni hana shi ka ke ru no ga niga te de su

My younger brother is not very good at talking to strangers.

Core concept

苦手 (nigate) marks a subject or activity as one that a person finds difficult to handle or perform well.

Common phrases

  • 英語が苦手ei go ga niga te

    not very good at English

  • 料理が苦手ryō ri ga niga te

    not good at cooking

  • 辛い物が苦手tsura i mono ga niga te

    not good with spicy food

Similar words

不得意futokui: Describes a subject or activity in which a person does not perform well.
下手heta: Describes someone who performs an action or activity with limited skill.

Definition in Japanese

ある分野や事柄をうまく扱えず、得意としないこと。a ru bun ya ya koto gara o u ma ku atsuka e zu toku i to shi na i ko to

Word origin

The Japanese word 苦手 (nigate, "poor at") is formed from 苦 (niga, "difficult") and 手 (te, "skill"), linking difficulty with a particular skill.

Usage tips

  • Unlike a direct statement of failure, 苦手 (nigate) can sound relatively mild when a speaker describes a weak area such as mathematics or public speaking.

Other meanings

  • poor atna-adjective
  • weak inna-adjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word