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Bad at doing
Definition
The grammar pattern "〜のが下手" is used to express that someone lacks skill or is not good at doing something. It is a polite way to describe someone's inability or lack of proficiency in a particular activity. The pattern can sound blunt, so it is often softened with phrases like "あまり" or "ちょっと" to make it sound less direct. For example, "あなたは料理のが下手です" (You are not good at cooking) can be softened to "あなたは料理のがあまり苦手です" (You are not very good at cooking).
Structure
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb dictionary form | Verb dictionary form + のが + 下手 | 歌うのが下手です (I am not good at singing) |
| Verb dictionary form with -te form | Verb dictionary form + -te + のが + 下手 | 勉強するのが下手です (I am not good at studying) |
| Verb dictionary form with -masu form | Verb dictionary form + のが + 下手 | 食べるのが下手です (I am not good at eating) |
Examples
私は料理のが下手です。
Watashi wa ryouri no ga heta desu.
I am not good at cooking.
私は (I) + 料理 (cooking) + の (nominalizer) + が (subject marker) + 下手 (not good at) + です (polite ending)
弟は漢字を書くのが下手です。
Otōto wa kanji o kaku no ga heta desu.
My brother is not good at writing Chinese characters.
弟 (brother) + は (topic marker) + 漢字 (Chinese characters) + を (object marker) + 書く (write) + の (nominalizer) + が (subject marker) + 下手 (not good at) + です (polite ending)
私は朝起きるのが下手で、いつも遅くなります。
Watashi wa asa okiru no ga heta de, itsumo osokunari desu.
I am not good at waking up in the morning, so I am always late.
私は (I) + 朝 (morning) + 起きる (wake up) + の (nominalizer) + が (subject marker) + 下手 (not good at) + で (because) + いつも (always) + 遅く (late) + なります (become)
Context
This pattern is used to express a lack of skill or ability in a particular activity. It is a polite way to describe someone's inability or lack of proficiency. It can be used in formal or informal situations, but it is more common in formal situations. It can be softened with phrases like "あまり" or "ちょっと" to make it sound less direct.
Watch out
Using ます-form instead of dictionary form can change the meaning of the sentence. For example, "歌いますのが下手です" (I am not good at singing) is not the same as "歌うのが下手です" (I am not good at singing).
下手 is used to describe a lack of skill or ability, while 上手 is used to describe a high level of skill or ability. For example, "あなたは料理のが下手です" (You are not good at cooking) is different from "あなたは料理のが上手です" (You are good at cooking).
Saying 下手 directly about someone present can be considered rude. Using softer phrases like "あまり" or "ちょっと" can make the sentence sound less direct and more polite.
Strategy
In the JLPT exam, this pattern is often tested in the listening and reading sections. Pay attention to the context and the tone of the sentence to determine whether to use this pattern or not. Practice using this pattern in different situations and with different verbs to improve your skills.
In context
Worked examples drawn from JLPT N5 test-style questions. Each sentence shows 〜のが下手 used correctly, with a brief note on what the pattern is doing.
私は歌うのが下手です。
Pattern used: 歌う
Before のが, use dictionary form. 歌う (to sing) + のが下手 = bad at singing. ます-form, て-form, and past tense are all incorrect before のが.
弟は漢字を書くのが下手です。
Pattern used: 書く
Dictionary form + のが下手 describes lack of skill. 書く (to write) + のが下手 = bad at writing. 書ける (potential) would mean 'able to write', changing the meaning.
私は朝起きるのが下手で、いつもおそくなります。
Pattern used: 起きる
Dictionary form + のが下手 = bad at doing. 起きる (to wake up) + のが下手 = bad at waking up. The で after 下手 connects to the consequence (always being late).
Interactive
私は______のが下手です。
Adaptive practice
Our adaptive engine will quiz you on this grammar pattern and track your progress toward mastery.