苦手
nigate
The English phrase "not good at" is expressed in Japanese as 苦手 (nigate).
苦手 is used to describe either a lack of skill in a particular activity or a strong psychological dislike and discomfort toward a subject or thing.
Which one should you use?
While the word 下手 specifically refers to a lack of technical skill, 苦手 is broader and can also imply that you find the subject unpleasant or difficult to deal with.
How does it change in a sentence?
In plain or informal speech, the word is often followed by だ to complete the sentence. To make the phrase polite, add です to the end, forming 苦手です. When using the word as an adjective to modify a noun directly, the form changes to 苦手な.
How do you pronounce it?
nigate
Did you know?
- When describing a person you find difficult to deal with, you can use 苦手な人. This describes someone who makes you feel uneasy or uncomfortable, rather than someone who lacks skill.
- The phrase 苦手意識 refers to a specific psychological complex where a person's preconceived belief that they are 'not good at' something actually prevents them from improving.
- If you say you are 苦手 with a certain type of food, it is often a polite way to say you dislike it without being rude. It frames the issue as a personal struggle with the food rather than a criticism of the cook.
Examples in context
- 絵が苦手なの。I'm not good at drawing.This sentence is useful for expressing a lack of skill with the form 苦手.Tatoeba #10100219 by small_snow, translation #6531962 by CK
- 魚釣りは苦手だ。I'm not good at fishing.Tatoeba #182067 by bunbuku, translation #4062848 by CK
- 料理は苦手です。I'm not good at cooking.Tatoeba #10540385 by small_snow, translation #10540381 by sundown
- 料理が下手です (りょうりがへたです)I'm not good at cooking
- 私はスポーツが苦手です (わたしはスポーツがにがてです)I'm not good at sports
- 私、ダンスが苦手なんだよね (わたし、だんすがにがてなんだよね)You know, I'm not good at dancing
- このゲームはあまり得意じゃない (このげーむはあまりとくいじゃない)I'm not very good at this game
- まだまだですが頑張ります (まだまだですががんばります)I still have a long way to go, but I'll do my best
- 絵を描くのが下手です。(えをかくのがへたです)I'm not good at drawing
- 数学が苦手で、いつも成績が悪いです。(すうがくがにがてで、いつもせいせきがわるいです)I'm not good at math, and my grades are always bad
- スピーチがあまり得意じゃないけど、頑張ります。(すぴーちがあまりとくいじゃないけど、がんばります)I'm not very good at public speaking, but I'll give it a try
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their hobbies at a cafe.
- 美咲 Misaki健太くんは歌、得意なの？Kenta-kun wa uta, tokui nano?Kenta, are you good at singing?
- 健太 Kentaいや、歌は苦手だよ。Iya, uta wa nigate da yo.No, I am not good at singing.
- 美咲 Misakiそうなんだ。残念だね。Sou nan da. Zannen da ne.I see. That's a shame.
- 健太 Kenta美咲さんは歌が得意なの？Misaki-san wa uta ga tokui nano?Misaki, are you good at singing?
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
