sticky fingers; compulsive stealing
Refers to a habit of stealing small things, often impulsively. Used in expressions like 手癖が悪い.
He has sticky fingers and often steals things from stores.
habitual hand movements; unconscious hand gestures
Describes unconscious, often fidgety hand movements, like touching one's hair or face. Not necessarily negative.
I'm bothered by his habitual hand movements when he talks.
wear from handling; marks from frequent use
Refers to the patina, stains, or wear on objects caused by being handled often. Often used for books, tools, or antiques.
This old dictionary shows marks from being handled often.
Standard kanji spelling. The reading てぐせ is a common voiced variant.
Compound of 手 (hand) and 癖 (habit). The meaning 'sticky fingers' is an extension of 'hand habit'.