Translation guide
Describes a lack of skill, proficiency, or competence in performing a task or activity. Japanese expressions vary based on whether the focus is on general clumsiness, poor technique, or a mismatch between effort and result.
To describe someone who is not good at something, often due to inexperience or natural lack of talent.
The most common and versatile word for 'unskillful' or 'poor at' something. Can be used for skills, sports, arts, etc. Often used in the pattern 〜が下手だ.
Means 'not good at' or 'weak at', often implying a personal dislike or lack of confidence in addition to lack of skill. Softer than 下手.
数学が苦手です。
I'm unskillful at math (and I don't like it).
Means 'clumsy' or 'awkward', often referring to manual dexterity or social skills. Implies a lack of finesse.
彼は不器用で、よく物を落とす。
He is unskillful with his hands and often drops things.
A stronger, more derogatory version of 下手. Used informally to criticize someone's lack of skill.
あいつの運転は下手くそだ。
His driving is really unskillful (and bad).
To describe an action or result that shows a lack of skill, often in a specific performance or product.
Means 'poor', 'clumsy', or 'unskillful', often used for speech, writing, or explanations. Has a humble or self-deprecating nuance.
拙い説明で申し訳ありません。
I'm sorry for my unskillful explanation.
Means 'awkward', 'clumsy', or 'lacking smoothness', often for movements, speech, or social interactions.
Attributive form of 下手, used before nouns to describe something done unskillfully.
下手な字で書かれた手紙。
A letter written in unskillful handwriting.
To express that someone is fundamentally lacking in ability, often in a professional or serious context.
Means 'incompetent' or 'inept', implying a complete lack of ability. Strongly negative.
Very harsh; avoid using directly about someone unless intending strong criticism.
彼は無能な上司だ。
He is an incompetent (unskillful) boss.
Literally 'useless', implying a person is unskillful and of no help. Colloquial and derogatory.
A slangy prefix or standalone word meaning 'poor-quality' or 'unskillful'. Often used self-deprecatingly or to insult.
へぼ医者にかかってしまった。
I ended up seeing an unskillful doctor.
下手 (heta) is a straightforward statement of lack of skill, while 苦手 (nigate) adds a nuance of personal discomfort or dislike. Use 苦手 to soften the statement or when you want to imply you avoid the activity.
私は英語が下手です。
I am poor at English (factual).
私は英語が苦手です。
I am not good at English (and I feel uneasy about it).
There is no single Japanese adjective that perfectly matches 'unskillful' in all contexts. Instead, choose from the options above based on the specific nuance. Using 不熟練 (fujukuren) is possible but very stiff and rarely used in conversation.
彼の日本語はまだぎこちない。
His Japanese is still unskillful and awkward.
あんな役立たずはクビだ。
That unskillful (useless) guy should be fired.