下手(へた)くそ へたくそ na-adjective, noun terrible at, very clumsy informalspokendescriptive 1. terrible at, very bad at, clumsy An emphatic, rude form of 下手(へた), meaning extremely unskilled or bad at something. Stronger and more colloquial than 下手(へた) alone. 歌(うた)が下手(へた)くそだ。🔊 You're terrible at singing. 下手(へた)くそな絵(え)を描(か)くなよ。🔊 Don't draw such awful pictures. 運転(うんてん)が下手(へた)くそで、何度(なんど)もエンストした。🔊 His driving was so bad that he stalled the engine multiple times. RegisterRude and blunt. Used when criticizing someone's skill harshly, often in casual speech or as a taunt. Avoid in polite settings.Forms下手(へた) (unskilled) + くそ (intensifier from 糞(くそ), a vulgar suffix meaning "crappy")Similar words下手(へた): unskilled (neutral)下手(へた)くそ: terrible at (rude, emphatic)不器用(ぶきよう): clumsy, not dexterous (more neutral, broader) Related Words Related: 下手(へた) (base form) Compare: 不器用(ぶきよう) (clumsy, not dexterous) general Added 2026.2.16 10:06 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01 11000/11345_hetakuso