Grammar Info
N5 Lesson 10: 5/12

のが下手(へた)
To be bad at, Poor at, Unskillful

Structure
Verb + + 下手
Details
Part of Speech Expression
Word Type Adjectival Noun
Register Standard
品詞 表現
単語の種類 形容動詞
使用域 一般
Information
~のが下手(へた) is a phrase that behaves in almost exactly the same way as ~のが上手(じょうず), but rather than meaning ‘to be good at (A)’, it means ‘to be bad at (A)’, (which is a much more handy expression, if you are like me!). This particular expression is used with the plain (dictionary) form of verbs only.
  • 私(わたし)漢字(かんじ)教(おし)えのが下手(へた)
    I am bad at teaching kanji.
  • 彼(かれ)運転(うんてん)するのが下手(へた)です
    He is bad at driving.
In these examples, we can see that there is no difference between Ichidan verbs and Godan verbs. Both will appear in their plain form. In this expression, のが is performing the same function as in the regular のは, and のが constructions. This function is nominalization (turning a phrase into a noun). However, のは cannot be used with this phrase, as is always required with adjectives.
Caution
If you want to express that you were bad at something (in the past), the verb will still remain in the plain form, but 下手(へた) will change to the past tense.
  • 去年(きょねん)まで料理(りょうり)するのが下手(へた)だった
    Until last year, I was bad at cooking.
Slow Male
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私(わたし)チェスするのが下手(へた)
I’m bad at chess.
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カタカナ覚(おぼ)えるのが下手(へた)
I’m poor at remembering Katakana.
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サッカーするのが下手(へた)です
I’m bad at playing soccer.
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Online
Books
みんなの日本語 II
Page 12 [CH 26]
みんなの日本語 II
Page 84 [CH 38]
みんなの日本語 I
Page 62 [CH 9]
Genki I 2nd Edition
Page 194