手てが込こむ

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-mu)

idiomatic expression

Describes something made with great care and detail, often implying skilled craftsmanship. Frequently used in the past tense or attributive form 手の込んだ.

Written forms

手てが込こむ
Standard kanji form; 込む conveys the sense of something being packed in or intricate.
手てが混こむ
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 混む suggests mixing or complication, but 込む is preferred.

Kanji

手hand
込crowded, mixture, in bulk
混mix, blend, confuse

Similar words

複ふく雑ざつ
複雑 is a general adjective for 'complex' or 'complicated', while 手が込む specifically implies intricate workmanship or elaborate detail.
精せい巧こう
精巧 means 'exquisite' or 'delicate' and often describes finely made objects, but 手が込む focuses on the process or effort behind the intricacy.

Etymology

Compound of 手 (hand, skill) + が (subject marker) + 込む (to be crowded, intricate). Literally 'the hand is packed in', suggesting detailed handiwork.