手
Meanings
The physical hand or arm. In Japanese, 手 can refer to the entire arm from shoulder to fingertips, not just the hand.
See also: お手 (おて)
Please wash your hands.
He raised his hand and asked a question.
forepaw; foreleg
Colloquial use for an animal's front paw or leg.
See also: お手 (おて)
The dog is licking its paw.
The handle or grip of a tool, utensil, or container.
The pot handle is getting hot.
A person's labor, assistance, or a worker. Often used in compounds like 人手 (hitode, 'manpower') or 手伝い (tetsudai, 'help').
We're busy and short-handed.
I'll ask for help with the move.
The effort, care, or trouble involved in doing something. Common in phrases like 手がかかる (to require effort/care).
This job takes a lot of effort.
The child no longer needs so much care.
A method, technique, or trick for doing something. Often used in set phrases like 手を尽くす (to try every means) or いい手 (a good move/technique).
I wonder if there's a good way to do this.
He knows the tricks of negotiation.
A person's handwriting or the style of their written characters.
His handwriting is hard to read.
Used in patterns like この手の (this kind of) or そういう手の (that sort of).
I often hear this kind of story.
one's hands; one's possession
Indicates possession or control. Most common in the phrase 手に入る (to obtain, to come into one's hands).
See also: 手に入る
I finally got my hands on a ticket.
ability to cope
Used in the phrase 手に余る (to be beyond one's ability, to be too much to handle).
See also: 手に余る
This problem is beyond my ability to handle.
The set of cards held by a player in a card game.
I got a good hand.
Used in the compound 山の手 (yamanote, 'hilly section of a city', literally 'mountain's hand/direction'). Rare standalone use.
See also: 山の手
The 手 in 山の手 indicates direction.
noun, noun, used as a suffix, counter
A move in board games like go or shogi. Also used as a counter for moves.
I'm thinking about my next move.
To read three moves ahead.
Usage patterns· 7
- 〈事〉に手がかかるto take a lot of effort or care
This dish takes a lot of effort to make.
- 〈物〉に手が届くto be within reach; to be affordable
That apartment isn't within an affordable price range.
- この手の〈物〉this kind/type of ~
I don't like this kind of movie.
- 〈人〉に手を貸すto lend a hand; to help someone
Since they looked busy, I lent a hand.
- 手を尽くすto try every means; to do everything possible
The doctors tried everything, but couldn't save him.
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- 手を挙げるto raise one's hand
Please raise your hand when you have a question.
- 〈人〉と手をつなぐto hold hands (with someone)
The children walked holding hands.
Expressions· 150
- 手の甲back of the hand
- あの手この手this way and that; by various means; every trick in the book
- 火の手flames; blaze; fire · attack; aggression
- 手の者one's subordinate; one's henchman
- 奥の手ace up one's sleeve; trump card; last resort · secret skill; hidden technique · left hand
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- 手が回るattend to everything; leave nothing undone; give good service · be on someone's tracks; close in on; catch up with
- 手が空くbe free; be available
- 手にするhold in one's hand; take into one's hand · obtain; come to own; get
- 手に乗るfall for a trick; be taken in; play into someone's hands
- 手に余るbe beyond one's ability; be too much to handle; be unmanageable
- 手を出すreach out one's hand; extend one's arm · get involved in; try one's hand at; embark on · start a fight; get physical; lay hands on · take; steal; pilfer · make a pass at; hit on; make a move on
- 手を切るcut one's hand · cut ties; break off relations; part ways