Japanese meaning of 下手の横好き

Reading: AI

へたのよこずき (heta no yokozuki)

English Translation:

All the gear and no idea

Meaning & Cultural Context

Meaning:

Loving a hobby despite being poor at it.

下手でもその分野が大好きで熱心であること。

Cultural Context:

Common in hobby/sports contexts; dovetails with perseverance ideals (keiko/shugyō); often used teasingly among friends.

趣味・スポーツの文脈で多用。「稽古」「修行」の粘り強さの価値観と親和。友人間の軽いからかいにも。

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

• 下手 (heta) = “unskillful” (na-adjective functioning as noun)
• の (no) = possessive/attributive particle
• 横好き (yokozuki) = “strong liking despite lack of skill” (noun)
Noun phrase linked by の, indicating a mismatch between ability and interest.

Trap for English Speakers

Might be taken as actually shaming lack of skill; it highlights enjoying something even if you’re not good at it.

Example

Basic Example

彼は下手の横好きで、道具だけは一流だ。

He’s all the gear and no idea—his tools are top-notch, but his skills are lacking.

Applied Example

「見ろ！最新装備だ！」…でも実力は下手の横好き。

“Check out my new gear!”…but he’s all the gear and no idea.