下手（な）
へた
JLPT N5 · vocab_adjectiveMeaning
Unskillful / Bad at
Examples
歌が下手です。
I am bad at singing.
📖 How to Use
「下手（な）」is an adjective meaning "Unskillful / Bad at." It directly precedes the noun it modifies. Know whether it's an い-adj or な-adj.
⚠️ Teacher's Note — Common Mistakes
「下手（な）」is read as「へた」— memorize it as a pair to avoid mistakes in もんだい1.
🎯 JLPT N5 — How It's Tested
もんだい1 & もんだい2
Adjectives like 「下手（な）」appear in both vocabulary and grammar sections.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does 「下手（な）」mean in Japanese?+
「下手（な）」means "Unskillful / Bad at". It is a JLPT N5 vocabulary word in the "vocab_adjective" category.
How do you read 「下手（な）」?+
「下手（な）」is read as「へた」.
Is 「下手（な）」on the JLPT N5?+
Yes, 「下手（な）」is an official JLPT N5 word. Mastering all N5 vocabulary (~800 words) is essential for passing.
Can you give an example sentence using 「下手（な）」?+
歌が下手です。 — I am bad at singing.
Practice 「下手（な）」 with spaced repetition