下手

• Reading: へた
• Romaji: heta
• Kanji breakdown: 下 (he/shita) — down, below, lower; 手 (ta/te) — hand
• Pronunciation: /he.ta/

Meaning

Unskillful; poor at; clumsy. Describes a lack of ability or proficiency in something.

A na-adjective meaning bad at or unskillful. The activity is marked with が: 歌が下手です (I am bad at singing). While commonly used in self-deprecation, using it about someone else can be rude. The reading へた is the standard adjectival use; the reading したて means a humble position and is a different word. The antonym is 上手 (jouzu, skillful).

Examples

1. 私は歌が下手です。 I'm bad at singing.
2. 下手でも楽しいです。 Even if I'm bad at it, it's still fun.
3. 字が下手なので、練習しています。 My handwriting is bad, so I'm practicing.

Usage Guide

Context: self-deprecation, abilities, daily life

Tone: negative

Origin & History

Literally 'lower hand' — 下 (down) and 手 (hand). The counterpart to 上手 (upper hand). In traditional arts, the lower hand position was associated with the less skilled performer.

Cultural Context

Era: Medieval

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal