N が 上手 / 下手です (N ga jouzu / heta desu) — good at / poor at
To say you are good or poor at something.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
上手 is for praising others — 日本語が上手ですね (Your Japanese is good!).
Meaning
To say someone is good at something, use 上手です (jouzu); poor at it, 下手です (heta).
How to attach
- The skill takes が: テニスが上手です (You are good at tennis), 歌が下手です (I am bad at singing).
- Both are な-adjectives (上手な人).
Watch out
Saying 上手です about yourself sounds boastful; people prefer to be modest with 下手です.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
テニスが上手です。
テニスがじょうずです。
You're good at tennis.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) テニス ──> [ を ❌ ] ──> [ + が ✅ ] ──> テニスが ──> [ + 上手です (skilled) ] ──> テニスが上手です.
歌が下手です。
うたがへたです。
I'm poor at singing.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 歌 (song) ──> [ + が ✅ ] ──> 歌が ──> [ + 下手です (poor at) ] ──> 歌が下手です (I'm poor at singing).
日本語が上手ですね。
にほんごがじょうずですね。
Your Japanese is good!
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 日本語 ──> [ + が ✅ ] ──> 日本語が ──> [ + 上手です ] ──> [ + ね (praise) ] ──> 日本語が上手ですね (your Japanese is good!).
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
Which says "good at tennis"?
💡 Hint: が.
テニスが上手です.
Which sentence means 'I am poor at singing'?
💡 Hint: 下手 is the opposite of 上手.
歌が 下手です = poor at singing. 上手です means good at it, while 好き／嫌い say you like or dislike it.
Fill: 歌＿下手です。("poor at singing")
💡 Hint: が.
歌が下手です.
Your score: /3