手てはず

て

は

ず

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

Refers to advance preparations or a prearranged plan, often for an event or procedure. Common in phrases like 手はずを整える (make arrangements).

旅りょ行こうの手てはずはもう整ととのいました。
The travel arrangements are already in place.
当とう日じつの手てはずを確かく認にんしておきましょう。
Let's confirm the plan for the day in advance.

See all 7 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

手てはずを整ととのえるto make arrangements/preparations
会かい議ぎの手てはずを整ととのえておいた。
I had already made all the arrangements for the meeting.
手てはずを決きめるto decide on the plan/arrangements
逃にげるための手てはずを決きめておこう。
Let's decide on the plan for how we'll escape.
手てはずが狂くるうfor the plan to go awry
雨あめが降ふって手てはずが狂くるってしまった。
The rain threw off all our carefully made plans.
手てはず通どおりに進すすむto proceed according to plan
作さく戦せんは手てはず通どおりに進すすんだ。
The operation proceeded exactly as planned.

Kanji

手hand
筈notch of an arrow, ought, must

Related words

準じゅん備びN5
準備 is the general, everyday word for getting ready for something, while 手はず specifically implies a prearranged set of steps or a plan agreed upon beforehand.
段だん取どりN1
段取り emphasizes the step-by-step procedure or scheduling of a task, while 手はず focuses more on the overall arrangement or plan that has been settled.
手て配はいN2
手配 often refers to concrete logistical arrangements (e.g. booking, dispatching), whereas 手はず is a broader term for the plan or set-up behind an event.
計けい画かくN4
計画 is a general word for any plan or project, while 手はず specifically denotes the practical arrangements made to carry out a plan.
布ふ石せき
手はず refers to practical arrangements for a specific, near-term event, whereas 布石 is about laying a foundation for a more distant future advantage.

Written forms

手てはずUsage40%
Standard spelling; 手筈 is a less common variant.
手て筈はずUsage60%
Variant kanji form; less frequent than 手はず.

Etymology

Compound of 手 (hand, method) and はず (筈, expectation). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it likely developed from the idea of a method or plan that is expected to work.