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How to say 'Unskilled' in Japanese | 下手

Wondering how to say 'Unskilled' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Unskilled is 'Heta', written as 下手 in Japanese.'Unskilled' in hiragana is へた.

    word

    下手

    Meaning

    Unskilled

    Reading

    へた

    heta

    Kanji

    Down Hand

    Explanation

    The Japanese adjectival noun '下手 (へた)' means 'unskilled' or 'poor at something'. It is used to describe a lack of skill or proficiency in a particular activity or task. This word often carries a slightly negative connotation, implying that someone is not good at something. For example: I am bad at cooking「私は料理が下手です」(わたしはりょうりがへたです). He is unskilled at playing the piano「彼はピアノを弾くのが下手です」(かれはぴあのをひくのがへたです). It is commonly used in the structure '[subject] は [activity] が 下手です' to express someone's lack of skill in a specific area.

    Part Of Speech

    adjectival noun

    Kanji JLPT

    N4

    Kanji Grade

    1

    Frequency

    482

    Composition

    kanji

    Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 下手

This word contains 2 kanji characters:

  • kanji

    Meaning

    Down

  • kanji

    Meaning

    Hand

Words Related to 下手 Through the Kanji

These 42 Words contain the Kanji 下 as well.

  • word

    下さる

    Meaning

    Give

  • word

    Meaning

    Under

  • word

    下り

    Meaning

    Descent

  • word

    年下

    Meaning

    Younger

  • word

    以下

    Meaning

    Below, Less

  • word

    地下鉄

    Meaning

    Subway

  • word

    下げる

    Meaning

    Lower

  • word

    地下

    Meaning

    Underground, Basement

  • word

    下ろす

    Meaning

    Lower, Unload

  • word

    靴下

    Meaning

    Socks

  • word

    下がる

    Meaning

    Descend, Decrease

  • word

    下水

    Meaning

    Sewage

  • word

    上下

    Meaning

    Updown

  • word

    下書き

    Meaning

    Draft

  • word

    下車

    Meaning

    Alighting

  • word

    部下

    Meaning

    Subordinate

  • word

    下品

    Meaning

    Vulgar

  • word

    廊下

    Meaning

    Hallway

  • word

    下町

    Meaning

    Downtown

  • word

    下る

    Meaning

    Descend, Decide

  • word

    天下

    Meaning

    World

  • word

    下宿

    Meaning

    Lodging

  • word

    下調べ

    Meaning

    Preparation

  • word

    下す

    Meaning

    Decide

  • word

    下流

    Meaning

    Downstream, Lower class

  • word

    下りる

    Meaning

    Descend

  • word

    下旬

    Meaning

    Last third

  • word

    下記

    Meaning

    Below

  • word

    下痢

    Meaning

    Diarrhea

  • word

    ぶら下がる

    Meaning

    Hang

  • word

    ぶら下げる

    Meaning

    Hang

  • word

    目下

    Meaning

    Subordinate

  • word

    低下

    Meaning

    Decline

  • word

    地下道

    Meaning

    Underground

  • word

    値下がり

    Meaning

    Decrease

  • word

    値下げ

    Meaning

    Price reduction

  • word

    見下ろす

    Meaning

    Look down

  • word

    陛下

    Meaning

    Majesty

  • word

    下着

    Meaning

    Underwear

  • word

    飛び下りる

    Meaning

    Jump down

  • word

    下駄

    Meaning

    Clogs

  • word

    零下

    Meaning

    Below zero

Words Related to 下手 Through the Kanji

These 48 Words contain the Kanji 手 as well.

  • word

    Meaning

    Hand

  • word

    相手

    Meaning

    Partner

  • word

    お手洗い

    Meaning

    Restroom

  • word

    空手

    Meaning

    Karate

  • word

    手術

    Meaning

    Surgery

  • word

    切手

    Meaning

    Stamp

  • word

    手紙

    Meaning

    Letter

  • word

    運転手

    Meaning

    Driver

  • word

    歌手

    Meaning

    Singer

  • word

    選手

    Meaning

    Player, Athlete

  • word

    手続き

    Meaning

    Procedure

  • word

    手段

    Meaning

    Method, Means

  • word

    苦手

    Meaning

    Dislike, Weakness

  • word

    両手

    Meaning

    Both hands

  • word

    手袋

    Meaning

    Gloves

  • word

    拍手

    Meaning

    Clap

  • word

    握手

    Meaning

    Handshake

  • word

    聞き手

    Meaning

    Listener

  • word

    右手

    Meaning

    Right hand

  • word

    上手

    Meaning

    Skilled

  • word

    勝手

    Meaning

    Selfish

  • word

    左手

    Meaning

    Left hand

  • word

    手数

    Meaning

    Effort

  • word

    大手

    Meaning

    Front, Major

  • word

    手前

    Meaning

    Oneself, Front

  • word

    手法

    Meaning

    Technique

  • word

    入手

    Meaning

    Acquisition

  • word

    手形

    Meaning

    Promissory note

  • word

    手伝う

    Meaning

    Help

  • word

    お手伝い

    Meaning

    Help

  • word

    手元

    Meaning

    Hand, Nearby

  • word

    片手

    Meaning

    One hand

  • word

    人手

    Meaning

    Workers

  • word

    手入れ

    Meaning

    Maintenance

  • word

    手本

    Meaning

    Example, Model

  • word

    手伝い

    Meaning

    Help

  • word

    手帳

    Meaning

    Notebook

  • word

    仕手

    Meaning

    Actor

  • word

    手軽

    Meaning

    Easy

  • word

    手順

    Meaning

    Procedure

  • word

    手当て

    Meaning

    Treatment, Allowance

  • word

    手掛かり

    Meaning

    Clue

  • word

    助手

    Meaning

    Assistant

  • word

    手足

    Meaning

    Limbs

  • word

    手間

    Meaning

    Effort

  • word

    派手

    Meaning

    Flashy

  • word

    手洗い

    Meaning

    Restroom, Hand washing

  • word

    手首

    Meaning

    Wrist

Learn the Word 下手

Let's make sure you fully understand this word.

What does 'Heta' (下手) mean?

'Heta' means 'Unskilled' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.