This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

下手な職人はいつも道具に難くせをつける。

Sentence Analyzer

下手な 職人 いつも 道具 難くせ つける

English Translation

A bad workman always blames his tools.

Furigana

下手(へた)職人(しょくにん)はいつも道具(どうぐ)(なん)くせをつける。

Romanji

Hetana shokunin wa itsumo dōgu ni nankuse o tsukeru.

Words

下手 (へた)
unskillful; poor; awkward; imprudent; untactful
職人 (しょくにん)
worker; mechanic; artisan; craftsman
()
topic marker particle; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
何時も (いつも)
always; usually; every time; never
道具 (どうぐ)
tool; implement; instrument; utensil; apparatus; device; means
()
at (place, time); in; on; during; to (direction, state); toward; into; for (purpose); because of (reason); for; with; by; from; as (i.e. in the role of); per; in; for; a (e.g. "once a month"); and; in addition to; if; although
難くせ (かたくせ)
fault-finding
()
indicates direct object of action; indicates subject of causative expression; indicates an area traversed; indicates time (period) over which action takes place; indicates point of departure or separation of action; indicates object of desire, like, hate, etc.
点ける (つける)
to turn on; to switch on; to light up

Kanji

Readings: カ、 ゲ、 した、 しも、 もと、 さ.げる、 さ.がる、 くだ.る、 くだ.り、 くだ.す、 -くだ.す、 くだ.さる、 お.ろす、 お.りる
Meanings: below, down, descend, give, low, inferior
Readings: シュ、 ズ、 て、 て-、 -て、 た-
Meaning: hand
Readings: ショク、 ソク
Meanings: post, employment, work
Readings: ジン、 ニン、 ひと、 -り、 -と
Meaning: person
Readings: ドウ、 トウ、 みち
Meanings: road-way, street, district, journey, course, moral, teachings
Readings: グ、 そな.える、 つぶさ.に
Meanings: tool, utensil, means, possess, ingredients, counter for armor, suits, sets of furniture
Readings: ナン、 かた.い、 -がた.い、 むずか.しい、 むづか.しい、 むつか.しい、 -にく.い
Meanings: difficult, impossible, trouble, accident, defect