下手でごめんなさい
heta de gomennasai
The Japanese phrase for "sorry for bad" is 下手でごめんなさい (heta de gomennasai).
This phrase is used to apologize when you feel you lack proficiency or skill in a specific activity, such as performing a hobby, playing a game or speaking a language.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of heta (unskillful or bad at something), the particle de (indicating reason or cause) and gomennasai (sorry).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While 下手でごめんなさい is a standard way to apologize for a lack of skill, you can adjust the register. For a highly formal or professional setting, you can replace gomennasai with 申し訳ございません to say, "I am terribly sorry for my lack of skill" (下手で申し訳ございません). For a very casual apology, you can simply use Gomen.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the particle de functions as a conjunction that links the reason, being unskillful, to the apology itself.
How do you pronounce it?
heta de gomennasai
Did you know?
- The word 下手 (heta) is used differently in the theater. In a traditional Kabuki theater, 下手 refers to the 'stage left' side of the stage, regardless of the performer's actual skill level.
- In Japanese culture, apologizing for being 'bad' at something is often a form of 'kenjougo', or humble language, used to show respect to the listener by lowering your own status.
- While 下手 (heta) means 'unskillful', its opposite 上手 (jouzu) literally means 'upper hand'. In traditional Japanese arts, the 'upper' position was reserved for the teacher, while the 'lower' position was for the student.
Example conversation
Ren is helping Himari with a drawing project.
- 陽葵 Himari絵が下手でごめんなさい。E ga hete de gomennasai.I am sorry that I am bad at drawing.
- 蓮 Ren全然大丈夫だよ。Zenzen daijoubu da yo.It is totally fine.
- 陽葵 Himari本当に？Hontou ni?Really?
- 蓮 Renうん、とても上手だよ。Un, totemo jouzu da yo.Yeah, you are very good.
