下手|へたheta[2]odaka (tail-high)

1. na-adjective, noununskillful; poor; awkward
   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.
2. na-adjective, nounimprudent; untactful
   下手へたな動うごき方かたをしない様ように気きをつけなさい。↗

   Take care not to make a foolish move.

• Synonym不器用ぶきようNeutralClumsy hands and awkwardness with fine work; can also mean socially inept. Stresses lack of dexterity, while 「下手」 stresses poor technique.
• Synonym不得意ふとくいNeutralMeans being weak at a field or subject; softer than 「下手」, as in 「数学が不得意」.
• Synonym不手際ふてぎわWrittenWritten/formal prose for mishandling something or dealing with it poorly, as in 「不手際をお詫びします」; not about skill or craft.
• Synonym不得手ふえてWrittenWritten/formal prose for something one is not good at or dislikes; more written than 「不得意」 and softer than 「下手」.
• Synonym拙劣せつれつWrittenWritten/formal prose for poor, inferior work, as in 「拙劣な言い訳」; carries criticism.
• SynonymへたくそCasualExtremely bad; much harsher than 「下手」, used to criticize others but often self-deprecating too.
• SynonymつたないWrittenWritten/formal prose for poor, crude work; often a humble expression, as in 「拙い文章ですが」. More refined than 「下手」.
• RelatedぎこちないNeutralDescribes stiff, unnatural movements or speech, as in 「ぎこちない笑顔」; it does not directly judge how skilled someone is.
• Related未熟みじゅくNeutralLack of experience or training; stresses not yet being mature, with room to grow, rather than poor technique itself.
• RelatedぶさいくCasualColloquial for ugly looks or poorly made things; insulting when said of a person.
• RelatedへぼCasualColloquial for someone with very poor skill, as in 「へぼ将棋」; contemptuous.
• AntonymうまいCasualThe opposite of 「下手」: skillful and well done; also means tasty, and is common in speech.

For lack of skill, 「下手」 is the default. Say it tactfully with 「不得意」, clumsy hands with 「不器用」, stiff movement with 「ぎこちない」, inexperience with 「未熟」, humbly with 「拙い」; being skilled is 「うまい」.

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

1. 技術ぎじゅつや能力のうりょくが十分じゅうぶんでなく、うまくできない様子ようす。
2. 言動げんどうに配慮はいりょが足たりず、状況じょうきょうに合あわない様子ようす。