Video
Let’s watch this short video for a quick overview.
Source: gokigen japanese official YouTube Channel
Introduction
Want to say “I’m good at cooking” or “I’m bad at drawing” in Japanese?
In this article, we’ll learn how to talk about skills and abilities using two key words:
- 上手（じょうず）= good at
- 下手（へた）= bad at
These are both な-adjectives, and they follow specific grammar patterns. Let’s learn how to express what you’re good (or not so good) at — in natural Japanese!
1. Basic Pattern: Noun が 上手です / 下手です
To say you are good or bad at something, use this sentence structure:
[Skill/Activity] が 上手（じょうず）です
= I’m good at [skill/activity]
[Skill/Activity] が 下手（へた）です
= I’m bad at [skill/activity]
Examples
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| スティーブさんは 中国語（ちゅうごくご）が 上手です。 | Steve is good at Chinese. |
| 私（わたし）は テニスが 下手です。 | I’m bad at tennis. |
| 弟（おとうと）は 絵（え）が 下手です。 | My younger brother is bad at drawing. |
| さきさんは ピアノが 上手です。 | Saki is good at piano. |
2. Grammar Notes
Use が (not を)
The skill or subject is marked with が — not を.
✅ ギターが上手です。
❌ ギターを上手です。
な-Adjective Rules Apply
Just like other な-adjectives, 上手 and 下手 need な when modifying a noun.
- 上手な人 = a person who is good at ___
- が下手な人 = a person who is bad at ___
Examples
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| ダンスが上手な人 | a person who is good a dancing |
| 料理（りょうり）が下手な人 | a person who is bad at cooking |
3. Similar Expressions: 得意（とくい）・苦手（にがて）
There are also two other useful words:
- 得意（とくい）= good at, confident in
- 苦手（にがて）= bad at, uncomfortable with
These express not only skill level, but also how you feel about the activity.
得意な suggests that you not only have skills in something but also enjoy it and have confidence in it, while 苦手な suggests you are unskilled in something, and also lack confidence and are unwilling to do it.
| Japanese | English nuance |
|---|---|
| 得意です | I’m skilled at it and I like doing it. |
| 苦手です | I’m not good at it and I prefer to avoid it. |
Examples
- 英語が苦手です。→ I’m not confident in English.
- 得意なスポーツは何ですか？ → What sport are you good at?
4. Practice Sentences
Try making your own sentences using 上手 / 下手:
- まりさんは ピアノが 上手です。
- 私は 歌（うた）が 下手です。
- 母は ダンスが 上手です。
- 兄は 英語が 下手です。
- ルイスさんは ゲームが 上手です。
Now try saying:
- What are you good at?
- What are you bad at?
5. Q&A Practice
Try answering these questions:
Q: ピアノが上手ですか？
→ はい、上手です。／いいえ、下手です。
Q: 空手（からて）が上手ですか？
→ いいえ、上手じゃないです。
Q: 日本語が得意（とくい）ですか？
→ うーん、あまり得意じゃないです。
Q: 何が得意ですか？
→ 写真（しゃしん）が得意です。／スポーツが得意です。
6. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
- QWhat’s the difference between 上手 and 得意?
- A
Both mean “good at,” but 上手 focuses on objective skill, while 得意 also implies personal confidence and enjoyment.
- QCan I use 上手 to talk about myself?
- A
Yes, but be careful — it may sound boastful in some situations. Native speakers often use 得意 or more humble phrases when talking about their own skills.
- QIs it okay to say 下手 for someone else?
- A
Be polite! Using 下手 about others can sound rude. It’s better to use a soft expression like “あまり得意じゃないです.”
- QHow can I say “I’m not very good at _”?
- A
Use: あまり上手じゃないです。or あまり得意じゃないです。
Conclusion
Now you can talk about your skills in Japanese with confidence!
✅ Use 上手（じょうず） and 下手（へた） for objective ability
✅ Use 得意（とくい） and 苦手（にがて） to express personal comfort
✅ Mark the skill with が and follow な-adjective rules
✅ Watch your tone when talking about yourself or others
🎯 Try writing 3 sentences:
→ One thing you’re good at
→ One thing you’re bad at
→ One thing you want to improve!
Want to improve your Japanese with real conversations?
Our native Japanese instructors at gokigen japanese can help you perfect your pronunciation and learn real-life usage.
Whether you’re completely new to Japanese or looking to refine your skills, book a one-on-one session.
