Translation guide
Describes something too difficult to handle, control, or deal with. Japanese uses different expressions depending on whether it's a physical object, a situation, a person, or an amount.
The speaker feels a situation or task is beyond their ability to manage.
Literally 'cannot be held in one's hands.' Used for situations, problems, or people that are out of control or beyond one's ability.
This problem is unmanageable.
His behavior became unmanageable.
Means 'nothing can be done about it.' Used when a situation is hopeless or unmanageable.
This situation is unmanageable now.
Literally 'cannot put a hand on it.' Implies something is so out of control you can't even start to deal with it.
The room is so messy it's unmanageable.
Describing an object that is too big, heavy, or awkward to carry or manipulate.
Describing a person or animal that is wild, disobedient, or impossible to control.
Describing a quantity that is too large to deal with effectively.
Both mean 'unmanageable,' but 手がつけられない emphasizes that the situation is so chaotic you can't even begin to intervene. 手に負えない is more general and can simply mean beyond one's ability.
I'm struggling with this huge suitcase.
Emphasizes that the person/animal is so wild you can't even approach them.
The excited dog is unmanageable.