下手 Unskillful

Meaning

Primary

Unskillful

Alternatives

Unskilled, Bad At, Not Good At, Not Skilled

Word Type

noun, な adjective

Explanation

Think of someone holding out their hand at shoulder level. Anything above that equals "skillful." Everything below that equals "unskillful. So, in the case of this word, "below hand" means "unskillful."

Reading

へた

Explanation

The reading is a bit of an exception so here's a mnemonic to help you remember:

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

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 下手な〜

  下手な人

  an unskilled person

  下手な子

  a child who's not good at something

  下手なこと

  something that one isn't good at

• 下手を〜

  下手をうつ

  to make a big mistake

  下手をする

  to mess up, to have things go wrong

• 下手に〜

  下手になる

  to become bad at something

  下手にうごく

  to make a bad move

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