下手
hetaUnskilled, poor at something, or clumsy
彼は料理が下手だ
He is bad at cooking
下手な英語
Poor English
Often used to describe someone's lack of skill in a particular area
The left side (of a stage, screen, etc.)
下手側の席
The left-side seats
Used in theater, film, and other performance contexts
Collocations
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Politeness Consideration
When referring to someone's lack of skill, it's often more polite to use '不器用' (clumsy) or '未熟' (inexperienced) instead of '下手'
⚡Gold Rule
Context Matters
The meaning of '下手' can change dramatically based on context - always consider whether it's being used to describe skill level or spatial positioning
📖Word Origin
Combination of '下' (below, inferior) and '手' (hand), literally meaning 'below the hand'
📝Usage Notes
Can be used to describe both people and things, but be cautious as it can sound harsh if used to describe someone directly