noun
female help; female worker; woman's labor
Refers to women as a workforce or the work done by women, often contrasted with 男手 (male help).
See also: 男手 (おとこで)
農繁期には女手が足りない。
During the busy farming season, we are short of female help.
この仕事は女手だけでは難しい。
This job is difficult with only female workers.
noun
woman's handwriting
Typically used when distinguishing a woman's handwriting from a man's, or referring to the characteristic style of female writing.
See also: 男手 (おとこで)
この手紙は女手で書かれている。
This letter is written in a woman's handwriting.
noun
Archaic term for hiragana, historically associated with women's writing. Not used in modern Japanese for the script itself.
See also: 男手 (おとこで)
平安時代、女手は主に女性によって使われた。
In the Heian period, hiragana was mainly used by women.