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手を焼く (てをやく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-ku)
be at a loss how to handle ; have difficulty dealing with ; be put out by
idiomatic expression
Idiomatic expression meaning to be troubled or perplexed by someone or something, not knowing how to deal with it. Often used when a person or situation is difficult to manage.
は
手て
を
焼や
い
た
。
I had difficulty dealing with this problem.
Similar words 困こま る 困る is a general verb for being troubled or in a fix, while 手を焼く specifically implies being at a loss about how to handle a person or situation.
持も て 余あま す 持て余す also means to be unable to handle something, but it often emphasizes having too much of something (time, energy, etc.) or being overwhelmed by it, whereas 手を焼く focuses on the difficulty of dealing with a troublesome person or matter.
Etymology The expression literally means 'to burn one's hands,' metaphorically suggesting that dealing with something is so troublesome it feels like getting burned. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a common idiomatic phrase.
