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下手
heta
unskillful
彼は料理が下手だ。
He is unskillful at cooking.
neutral
lacking skill or ability in a particular activity; not good at something
彼女は歌が下手です。
She is unskillful at singing.
彼の運転は下手だ。
He drives poorly.
Used for both people and things (e.g., 下手な絵 an unskillful painting).
neutral
a poor or unfavorable outcome; something done badly
この試合は下手な試合だった。
This was a poorly played game.
Often used in sports or performances.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Softening the word
To make 下手 sound less harsh, add の before a noun (e.g., 下手の料理 unskillful cooking) or use 下手くそ for humor.
Gold Rule
Avoid with superiors
Never use 下手 to describe someone of higher status unless joking. Use 下手な + noun instead (e.g., 下手な歌 a poor song).
Word Origin
From 下 (below, inferior) + 手 (hand, skill), indicating a lack of skill or inferior ability.
Usage Notes
Can be softened with の but is often direct. Avoid using with people you respect unless in a casual context.
Word Breakdown
下
below, inferior
root手
hand, skill
root和英辞典