Unskillful
Unskilled, Bad At
noun, な adjective
Think of someone holding out their hand at shoulder level. Anything above that equals "skillful." Everything below that equals "unskillful." So, in the case of this word, "below hand" means unskillful.
Sometimes kanji have exceptional readings that are neither on’yomi, nor kun’yomi, and this is one of them. So here’s a mnemonic to help you remember this reading:
If you're bad at something and you complain about it, then you're just a hater (へた). Don't be a hater; get better.
ギターは下手ですが、ピアノは中々上手ですよ。
I'm not the best at playing the guitar, but I'm pretty good at the piano.
下手なマッサージより、スパにいきたいよ。
I want to go to a spa instead of getting a bad massage.
わたし、バナナグラムが下手な人とはデートにいけないの。ごめんなさい。
I can't go on a date with someone who isn't good at Bananagrams. I'm sorry.