下手だ

be bad at

phrase Common #3,770
be bad at Used to say that someone lacks skill at an activity. The activity is typically marked with が, as in 料理が下手だ (be bad at cooking).
JA: 私は人前で話すのが下手だ。
EN: I'm bad at speaking in front of people.

踊り下手だけど楽しい

I'm not good at dancing, but it's fun.

相変わらず歌が下手だ

You're still terrible at singing.

— 戦争と女の顔 (2019)

彼は字が下手だ

His handwriting is poor.

彼女は料理が下手だ

She’s a bad cook.

私は彼がダンス下手だと思いました

I thought he was a bad dancer.

泳ぐの下手だ

I'm a poor swimmer.

あの人の娘さん料理が下手だ

That person's daughter is a poor cook.

あいつは教えるの下手だ

That guy is a terrible teacher.

彼女は料理が恐ろしく下手だ

She is terribly bad at cooking.

私はテニス下手だ

I'm bad at tennis.

演技下手だ仕事は台無しになる

If the acting is bad, the whole production will be ruined.

— レザボア・ドッグス (1992)

俺の日本語は本当に下手だと思いますよ

I really think my Japanese is terrible.

下手だから見ないで

Don't look; I'm not very good.

— レベッカ (1940)

彼女はかなりテニス下手だ

She is pretty bad at tennis.

彼女はテニスは上手い水泳は下手だ

She's good at tennis but bad at swimming.

運転下手だが、彼はどうにか運転免許合格した

He’s a poor driver, but he somehow managed to pass his driving test.

しかし彼は英語を読むの下手だ

But he isn't good at reading English.

彼は聞き上手だが話すのは下手だ

He's a good listener, but he's not good at speaking.

歌が下手だ

I’m a bad singer.

彼は運転が非常に下手だ

He is a very bad driver.

彼はテニスがかなり下手だ

He’s pretty bad at tennis.