下手(へた)と苦手(にがて)

Question about Japanese
下手(へた)と苦手(にがて)はどうちがいますか

Answer:
See Figure 1 below.

Assume that there is a person (John) and a target. The target can be anything, for example; running, swimming, cooking, a job, another person, etc.

When he does some action to the target, he gets some feeling from a response from it.

Basically, the difference between “下手” and “苦手” is as follows:
“下手(へた)” is an evaluation word for skill.
“苦手(にがて)” is an explanatory word for feeling.

“下手” is used by another person for evaluating John’s skill. Such as:

Another person(Kelly) can say her evaluation of John’s skill as:
Kelly: Johnは泳ぐのが下手だ。( John is bad at swimming)

As opposed to that, “苦手” is used by John for explaining his own feeling. Such as:

John: 私は泳ぐのが苦手です。(I feel bad about swimming)

Basic meanings are shown as above.
However, actually Japanese use those two words interchangeably.
Therefore, all of following four expressions are natural.
1. John: 私は泳ぐのが下手です。I’m bad at swimming.
2. John: 私は泳ぐのが苦手です。I feel bad about swimming.
3. Kelly: John は泳ぐのが下手だ。 John is bad at swimming.
4. Kelly: John は泳ぐのが苦手だ。 John is bad at swimming.

Note the 4th sentence. Kelly cannot know John’s feeling without any explanation from him, so “苦手” in Kelly’s saying means same as “下手”.

Despite the above examples, “下手” and “苦手” are different words which explain different aspects.
Therefore, the following sentence is a natural expression in Japanese.

John: 私は泳ぐのが下手ですが、苦手ではありません。好きです。
　　　I’m bad at swimming, but I don’t dislike it. I like it.

みせ(店) and しょうてん(商店)

What is the difference between みせ(店) and しょうてん(商店) ?

みせ(店) is a generic word usable for stores, shops, restaurants and some kind of business offices.
しょうてん(商店) represents small retail stores only.

"言う" and "話す”

”言う”　と　”話す”　には違いがありますか？
What is the difference between ”言う” and ”話す” ?

”言う” say
"話す" say, communicate, talk

(a) スーザンはスティーブと彼の事業の戦略について話しました。
Susan talked with Steve about the strategy of his business.

The sentence above represents a bilateral communication. So "話す" is suitable. "言う" is not.

(b) スーザンはスティーブにその戦略ではうまく行かないだろうと言いました／話しました。
Susan said to Steve that the strategy will not work well.

The sentence above represents a Susan's opinion. This case, both of "言う" and "話す” can be used.

"らしい" and ”みたい"

"らしい” と "みたい" の違いは何ですか？
What is the difference between "らしい" and ”みたい" ?

Basically, "みたい" is used for an assumption based on some grounds.
On the other hand, "らしい" is used for hearsay information.

See example below:
There are four people; Bill, Steve, Larry, and Bob.
One day Steve saw Bill. He was leaving home equipped with mountain-climbing gear.
Steve said to Larry, "ビルは登山に行ったみたいだよ".
After that, Larry said to Bob, "ビルは登山に行ったらしいよ".

Steve saw Bill leaving, so he can use "みたい".
Larry didn't, so he used "らしい" as the meaning of hearsay information.