のが下手
To be bad at, Poor at, Unskillful
Structure
Explanation
～のが下手 is a structure that operates very similarly to ～のが上手. However, instead of conveying that someone is 'good at' an action, it expresses that they are 'bad at' it. This grammar pattern connects exclusively with the dictionary form of a verb.
- 妹は歌を歌うのが下手。My younger sister is bad at singing.
- 弟は掃除するのが下手です。My younger brother is bad at cleaning.
As seen in these sentences, the verb form remains the same regardless of whether it is an Ichidan or Godan verb; it will always be the plain form. The particle combination のが works here just as it does in other のは and のが sentences, by nominalizing the verb (turning the action into a noun concept). Note that のは cannot be used in this construction because adjectives like 下手 always take the particle が.
Caution
To say that you were bad at something in the past, the verb will stay in the dictionary form, while 下手 is conjugated into its past tense form.
- 子供の時、泳ぐのが下手だった。When I was a child, I was bad at swimming.
Examples
兄は歌を歌うのがへただ。
My older brother is bad at singing. (unskillful)
私は絵を描くのがへた。
I'm poor at drawing pictures. (unskillful)
ダンスをするのがへたです。
I'm bad at dancing. (unskillful)
彼女はうそをつくのがへた。
She is bad at telling lies. (unskillful)
彼は写真を撮るのがへた。
He is bad at taking photos. (unskillful)
私はプレゼントを包むのがへたすぎる。
I'm really bad at wrapping presents. (unskillful)
私は、片付けるのがへたです。
I'm bad at tidying up. (unskillful)
彼は背が低いから、バスケットボールをするのがへたです。
He is short, so he is bad at playing basketball. (unskillful)
君は、ゲームをするのがへたですね。
You are bad at playing games, aren't you. (unskillful)
父は説明するのがへた。
My dad is bad at explaining things. (unskillful)
彼女は、スケートをするのがへただろう。
She's bad at skating, don't you think? (unskillful)