駄作

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 駄作 (ださく) is an evaluative noun for a work judged poor. 駄作だ gives a direct judgment; 駄作と評される reports an outside assessment.
• Basic usage: A painter calls his own picture 駄作だ; even a famous author's work can be 駄作と評される.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Self-assessment by a creator and external critical judgment
  • だと言う reports the label chosen by a speaker, while と評される is passive and attributes the judgment to others. Fame does not block this negative evaluation.