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German Phrase

Ich bin nicht gut drauf.

/ɪç bɪn nɪç ɡuːt dʁaʊf/
Meaning"I'm not in a good mood."
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Meaning

Literally, ‘I am not good on it’, this idiom means ‘I’m not in a good mood’ or ‘I’m feeling off today’. It refers to a temporary emotional state rather than a permanent trait.

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When to use

Use this phrase in casual conversation with friends, family, or colleagues when you want to explain that you’re feeling down, irritable, or just not yourself. It’s unsuitable for formal business settings or written reports.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Ichbinnichtgutdrauf

1

sein (bin)

‘bin’ is the first‑person singular present of the verb sein (to be). It links the subject to a state or description.

2

Negation with nicht

‘nicht’ negates the adjective that follows it; it must stay before ‘gut’ in this construction.

3

gut (adjective)

Here ‘gut’ describes the speaker’s mood; it is not a permanent quality but a temporary state.

4

drauf (colloquial adverb)

‘drauf’ is a short form of ‘darauf’ used idiomatically after ‘gut’ to mean ‘in a good mood/feeling’. It is informal and cannot be replaced by a literal ‘on it’ in English.

🗨In Conversation

A

Hey, willst du heute Abend noch etwas trinken gehen?

Hey, do you still want to go out for a drink tonight?

Ich bin nicht gut drauf, lass uns lieber ein anderes Mal.

I'm not in a good mood, let's do it another time.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ich bin gut nicht drauf.

    Placing ‘nicht’ after ‘gut’ changes the meaning to ‘I’m not bad’, which is the opposite of the intended phrase.

  • Ich bin nicht schlecht drauf.

    ‘Ich bin nicht schlecht drauf’ is grammatically possible but sounds odd; native speakers prefer ‘nicht gut drauf’ for a neutral negative mood.

  • Ich bin nicht gut darauf.

    Using the literal ‘darauf’ instead of the idiomatic ‘drauf’ sounds stiff and unnatural.

↔Alternatives

  • Ich bin nicht gut gelaunt.

    I'm not in a good mood.

  • Ich habe keine Lust.

    I don't feel like it.

  • Ich fühle mich nicht gut.

    I don't feel well.

de

Cultural Tip

‘Ich bin nicht gut drauf’ is a colloquial, slightly slangy expression most common among younger speakers and in everyday spoken German. In a formal setting you would say something like ‘Ich fühle mich nicht gut’ or simply ‘Ich bin nicht gut gelaunt’. Also, avoid using it with people you don’t know well, as it can sound overly familiar.