“Bad at” in Japanese is 下手 (へた), pronounced heta.
Pronunciation
The word has 2 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Bad at or unskilled. Saying it about yourself is a typical modest response.
Example sentences
- 歌が下手です。うたがへたです。I’m bad at singing.
- 日本語はまだ下手です。にほんごはまだへたです。My Japanese is still poor.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 下手. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Before a noun | 下手な〜 へたな〜 | bad at (thing) |
| Polite present | 下手です へたです | is bad at |
| Negative | 下手じゃないです へたじゃないです | isn’t bad at |
| Past | 下手でした へたでした | was bad at |
| Past negative | 下手じゃなかったです へたじゃなかったです | wasn’t bad at |
| Adverb (に) | 下手に へたに | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
Test yourself0/3
What does {{下手}} mean?
How do you read {{下手}}?
Which word means “dangerous”?
Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say bad at in Japanese?
Bad at in Japanese is 下手 (へた), pronounced “heta”.
How do you write bad at in Japanese?
It's written 下手 with kanji, or へた in hiragana. Both are read heta.
Is 下手 on the JLPT?
Yes. 下手 (heta) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.