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Kotomora

手

hand

JLPTN5StatusJōyō · grade 1FrequencyTop 100Strokes4

Readings

On'yomi

  • シュ
  • ズ

Kun'yomi

  • て
  • て-
  • -て
  • た-

Meaning

手 centers on the hand as a body part and its use in action, grasping, or handling things.

Most common words using 手

24 of 1,656
  • 手て
    N5

    hand; arm

  • 相手あいて
    N4

    companion; partner; company

  • 選手せんしゅ
    N4

    player (of a sport); athlete; team member

  • 上手いうまい
    N4

    skillful; skilful; skilled; good; expert; clever (expression, trick, etc.); apt; appropriate

  • 勝手かって
    N3

    one's own convenience; one's way; selfishness

  • 手段しゅだん
    N3

    means; way; measure

  • 手術しゅじゅつ
    N3

    surgery; operation; procedure

  • 苦手にがて
    N3

    poor (at); weak (in); not very good (at)

  • 上手じょうず
    N5

    skillful; skilled; proficient; good (at); adept; clever

  • 入手にゅうしゅ
    N2

    acquisition; obtaining; procurement; getting (hold of)

  • 手紙てがみ
    N5

    letter; note

  • 大手おおて
    N2

    major company; big company

  • 下手へた
    N5

    unskillful; poor; awkward

  • 下手したて
    N1

    humble position; inferior

  • 手法しゅほう
    N1

    technique; method

  • 手続きてつづき
    N3

    procedure; process; proceedings; formalities

  • 手間てま
    N3

    time; labour; labor; effort

  • 投手とうしゅ

    pitcher

  • 若手わかて

    young person

  • 選手権せんしゅけん

    championship; title (of champion)

  • 手伝うてつだう
    N5

    to help; to assist; to aid

  • 手順てじゅん
    N2

    process; procedure; sequence; protocol; instruction

  • 歌手かしゅ
    N3

    singer

  • 助手じょしゅ
    N3

    assistant; helper

Explore all words using 手 →

Study

Etymology

手 is a pictograph of a hand with fingers and a wrist. The modern form retains the basic hand shape with four strokes.

Meaning mnemonic

The top stroke is the wrist, the two horizontal strokes are the fingers, and the vertical stroke is the palm. Together they form a hand.

Reading mnemonic

For シュ, imagine a shoe held in your hand: shoe -> シュ, and your hand is ready to put it on.