下手 Unskillful

Meaning

Primary

Unskillful

Alternatives

Unskilled, Bad At

Word Type

noun, な adjective

Explanation

Think of someone holding out their hand at shoulder level. Anything above that equals "skillful." Everything below that hand equals unskillful. That's why "below hand" means unskilled or bad at!

Reading

へた

Explanation

Sometimes kanji have exceptional readings that are neither on'yomi nor kun'yomi, and this is one of them. So here's a mnemonic to help you remember this reading:

If you're unskillful or bad at something and you complain about it, then you're just a hater (へた). Don't be a hater; get better.

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 下手を〜

  下手をする

  to mess up, to have things go wrong

  下手をうつ

  to make a big mistake

• 下手な〜

  下手な人

  an unskilled person

  下手なこと

  something that one isn't good at

  下手な子

  a child who's not good at something

• 下手に〜

  下手にうごく

  to make a bad move

  下手になる

  to become bad at something

Context Sentences

ギターは下手ですが、ピアノは中々上手ですよ。

I'm not the best at playing the guitar, but I'm pretty good at the piano.

下手なマッサージより、スパにいきたいよ。

I want to go to a spa instead of getting a bad massage.

わたし、バナナグラムが下手な人とはデートにいけないの。ごめんなさい。

I can't go on a date with someone who isn't good at Bananagrams. I'm sorry.

Kanji Composition

1. 下

   か Below
2. 手

   て Hand