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.
この問題は手に負えない。
This problem is unmanageable.
彼の行動は手に負えなくなった。
His behavior became unmanageable.
Means 'nothing can be done about it.' Used when a situation is hopeless or unmanageable.
この状況はもうどうにもならない。
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.
部屋が散らかりすぎて手がつけられない。
The room is so messy it's unmanageable.
Describing an object that is too big, heavy, or awkward to carry or manipulate.
Also used for physical objects that are too heavy or large to handle.
この荷物は重すぎて手に負えない。
This luggage is too heavy to manage.
Means to have more than one can handle, often used for physical objects or free time.
Describing a person or animal that is wild, disobedient, or impossible to control.
Commonly used for unruly children, students, or pets.
あの子は本当に手に負えない。
That child is really unmanageable.
Describing a quantity that is too large to deal with effectively.
Means 'cannot process completely.' Used for workloads, data, or tasks that exceed capacity.
この量の仕事は処理しきれない。
This amount of work is unmanageable.
Literally 'hands don't go around.' Means you are too busy to handle everything.
注文が多すぎて手が回らない。
There are too many orders; it's unmanageable.
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.
大きなスーツケースを持て余している。
I'm struggling with this huge suitcase.
Emphasizes that the person/animal is so wild you can't even approach them.
興奮した犬は手がつけられない。
The excited dog is unmanageable.