How to say "poor" in Japanese

• 悪いわるいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers 'poor' only where it simply means 'bad': poor quality, poor condition, poor health. It says nothing about money, skill, or pity — those call for different words.
  「顔色かおいろがわるいけど具合ぐあいが悪わるいのかい」「そういうわけでもないよ」↗

  "You look pale. Are you sick?" "Not exactly."
• 苦手にがてJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounFor people who are poor at a subject, sport, or skill. It presents the weakness as the person's own, often with a shade of discomfort or aversion toward the thing itself.
  私は数学すうがくは苦手にがてだ。↗

  I am out of my element in math.
• かわいそうJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounThe 'poor' of pity: feeling sorry for a person or animal in an unfortunate situation — 'the poor thing!' It is usually written in kana alone.
  私は何なん匹ひきかのかわいそうな猫ねこが追い出おいだされるのを見みた。↗

  I saw some poor cats kicked out.
• 下手へたJLPT N5approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounDescribes a skill or performance as poor or awkward, as in someone whose cooking is poor. It judges how well something is done; 苦手 presents the same weakness as the doer's own.
  彼かれはイギリス生うまれだが、英語えいごがとても下手へたである。↗

  He comes from England, but is very poor at English.
• 貧しいまずしいJLPT N3approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe 'poor' of poverty: lacking money and material comforts, as in a poor family or a poor childhood. It describes hardship and need, not skill, quality, or pity.
  われわれは貧まずしい人ひとあざ笑わらってはいけない。↗

  We must not laugh at the poor.

Use 「貧しい」 for lacking money, 「悪い」 for poor condition or quality, 下手 and 苦手 for poor skill (下手 judges the performance, 苦手 the person's weakness), and 「かわいそう」 for the sympathetic 'poor thing!'

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 悪いわるいbad
• 苦手にがてpoor (at)
• かわいそうpoor
• 下手へたunskillful
• 貧しいまずしいpoor
• 細々ほそぼそpoor (living)
• 貧弱ひんじゃくpoor
• 不良ふりょうbad
• 貧乏びんぼうpoverty-stricken
• 気の毒きのどくpitiful
• 劣悪れつあくpoor (quality, conditions, etc.)
• 上がったりあがったりdoomed (business, trade, etc.)
• 金がないかねがないbroke
• へたくそunskilled
• 乏しいとぼしいmeagre
• 不憫ふびんpoor
• 駄だpoor
• プアpoor
• 拙悪せつあくpoor (tasting)
• 芳しくないかんばしくないpoor
• お粗末おそまつpoor
• お寒いおさむいpoor
• ぼんびーpoor
• 悴かせlow
• 腕が悪いうでがわるいunskilled
• すぐれないunwell
• 下手っぴへたっぴunskilled
• へぼいclumsy
• から下手からへたutterly lacking (in ability)
• まずいpoor
• 素すmere
• かすかpoor
• 薄手うすでsuperficial (knowledge, critique, etc.)
• 不景気ふけいきpoor (business)
• 怪しいあやしいuntrustworthy
• 汚いきたないdisordered
• ぴーぴーpoor
• しがないpoor
• 手が悪いてがわるいpoor (handwriting)
• 半人前はんにんまえinexperienced
• ケチくさいshabby
• けちshabby
• つたないunskillful
• 愛おしいいとおしいpitiable
• しょっぱいinferior