Wow. I guess that is pretty harsh. I simply knew it only as へた long before I started using JCJP, so I'm not even sure I ever noticed したて as a possible alternative answer.
Since 下手 is a compound word, by default you would normally think each kanji likely will need to be read using their ON readings. However, 下 (した) and 手 (て) are both really basic words on their own, and so those readings should stand out as fairly obvious KUN readings. I would have thought したて is two completely separate words, just that when shoved together it gets used as a specific meaning, but not quite the same as a standard kanji compound word.
Not that へ or た are actually ON readings of either of those kanji at all!! 下手 definitely isn't meant to be read using ON readings of each kanji, definitely isn't read as someting like "かしゅ"... The へた reading of 下手 is just a special compound reading (not related to the ON or KUN readings of either kanji) simply using those kanji for their meaning.
I've often wondered what the etymology and origins of this へた are. I guess it must have originated as 大和言葉, and then later those two kanji 下手 were chosen to write it, instead of へた being added as a normal KUN reading to a single kanji?
Anyway, I'm just rambling on now... Yeah, the answer choices for that question should really be changed, since したて really is a proper listing found in dictionaries. Very harsh that it marked the answer you chose as wrong, as it was a good guess. :|
March 18, 2015 at 11:16am
It's sure shita means down / te means hands . but when you combined together it becames jouzu = good at something ( ex: anata no nihongo wa jouzu desu ne)=(you're good at Japanese) .. you will hear this a lot so keep it in your mind .. jaa ~
Hm, Aminallah, I think you are confusing it together.
Wow. I guess that is pretty harsh. I simply knew it only as へた long before I started using JCJP, so I'm not even sure I ever noticed したて as a possible alternative answer.
When taking a quiz at a particular website, try to keep in mind what you learned at that website.
Makes for interesting conversation though :D