Translation guide
Describes writing that is low in quality, skill, or clarity. The best Japanese expression depends on whether you mean bad handwriting, poorly composed text, or a clumsy writing style.
The physical act of writing characters is messy, illegible, or unattractive.
Directly means 'bad handwriting' or 'poor penmanship'. Commonly used to describe someone's messy or illegible writing.
The content or structure of the writing is bad, regardless of handwriting.
Means 'poor writing' or 'wretched prose'. Used for badly written sentences, essays, or stories. Often self-deprecating.
The writing is grammatically correct but stylistically awkward, unnatural, or hard to read.
Describes writing that feels stiff, awkward, or unnatural. Often used for non-native or inexperienced writing.
彼の英語の作文はまだぎこちない文章だ。
His English composition is still awkward writing.
悪筆 (あくひつ) is strictly about handwriting. 駄文 (だぶん) is about the content being worthless or poorly written. 悪文 (あくぶん) is about the style being bad, often in a literary sense. Don't mix them up.
悪筆で駄文を書く。
He writes poor prose in bad handwriting.
The phrase 'poor writing' can't always be translated word-for-word. For example, 'poor writing skills' is naturally 文章力が低い (ぶんしょうりょくがひくい) or 文章を書くのが下手 (ぶんしょうをかくのがへた), not a direct equivalent of 'poor writing'.
彼は悪筆で、何を書いているのか読めない。
His handwriting is so bad I can't read what he's written.
Literally 'characters are unskillful'. A casual, everyday way to say someone's handwriting is poor.
字が下手で恥ずかしい。
I'm embarrassed by my poor handwriting.
Means 'characters are messy/dirty'. Emphasizes the untidy appearance rather than lack of skill.
字が汚くて、読むのに苦労する。
The handwriting is so messy it's a struggle to read.
この小説は駄文の見本だ。
This novel is a model of poor writing.
Literally 'writing/composition is unskillful'. A straightforward way to say someone's writing ability is poor.
文章が下手で、伝えたいことがうまく書けない。
My writing is poor, so I can't express what I want to say well.
A humble, formal term for one's own poor writing. Often used in letters or prefaces.
拙文をお許しください。
Please forgive my poor writing.
Means 'hard-to-read writing'. Focuses on the reader's difficulty rather than the writer's skill.
このレポートは読みにくい文章でいっぱいだ。
This report is full of hard-to-read writing.
Specifically means 'bad writing' in terms of style or composition. Often used in literary or academic criticism.
その作家の悪文は批評家から酷評された。
The author's poor writing was severely criticized by reviewers.