Ich bin schlecht
The English phrase "I am bad" is translated into German as Ich bin schlecht.
This phrase is used to state that you lack skill or are not good at a particular activity.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Bavarian dialect, the expression I bin ned guad. is used to mean "I am not good."
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful when using Ich bin schlecht. While English speakers use "bad" to mean unskilled, in German, this phrase can imply that you are a wicked or evil person.
Did you know?
- In some contexts, schlecht can describe a physical sensation of nausea. If a German speaker says Mir ist schlecht, they are not saying they are a bad person, but that they feel sick to their stomach.
- The word schlecht is a distant relative of the English word 'slight', as both originate from a Proto-Germanic root meaning 'smooth' or 'plain'.
- To avoid sounding like a 'bad person', Germans often prefer the phrase Ich kann das nicht so gut, which translates to 'I cannot do that so well'.
Examples in context
- Ich bin schlecht in Mathe.I am bad at math.
- Ich bin nicht gut im Singen.I am not good at singing.
- Ich bin schlecht im Kochen.I am bad at cooking.
- Tut mir leid, ich bin schlecht darin.I am sorry, I am bad at that.
Example conversation
Julia and Julian are playing a video game together.
- JuliaJulian, spielst du mit mir?Julian, will you play with me?
- JulianJa, aber ich bin schlecht in diesem Spiel.Yes, but I am bad at this game.
- JuliaKein Problem, ich helfe dir.No problem, I will help you.
- JulianDanke, Julia, das ist sehr nett.Thanks, Julia, that is very kind.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Ich, bin, ich, schlecht, CC BY-SA 4.0.
