expression, noun-modifying (irregular)
intricate; elaborate; complicated
Describes something made with great care, detail, and effort, often implying craftsmanship or complexity. Used prenominally to modify nouns.
彼女は手の込んだ料理をふるまってくれた。
She treated us to an elaborate home-cooked meal.
このドレスは手の込んだ刺繍が美しい。
The intricate embroidery on this dress is beautiful.
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
Rarely used kanji form; 混 can imply 'mixed' or 'complicated', but this spelling is uncommon.
From 手 (hand) + の (possessive particle) + 込んだ (past tense of 込む, 'to be crowded' or 'to go into'), literally 'the hand has gone into it', implying that much handiwork has been put into something.