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手元 (てもと, temoto) Japanese meaning: at hand | Kotomora

手て元もと

て

も

と

○

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

at hand; nearby; within reach

Describes something physically close to one's hands or immediately available. Often used as 手元に.

辞じ書しょを手て元もとに置

お

い

て

勉べん

強きょう

する

。

I study with a dictionary at hand.

必ひつ要ような書しょ類るいはすべて手て元もとにそろっている。

All the necessary documents are on hand.

2

skill; dexterity; way of using one's hands

Refers to manual skill or the manner of moving one's hands, especially in crafts, sports, or performance. Less common than sense 1.

職しょく人にんの手て元もとはとても正せい確かくだ。
The craftsman's hand movements are very precise.

3

money on hand; cash at hand; pocket money

Specifically refers to money one currently has available. Often used in financial or everyday contexts.

手て元もとに現げん金きんがほとんどない。
I have almost no cash on hand.

4

grip; handle; part held by hand

Refers to the part of a tool, weapon, or utensil that is gripped. Also used for the manner of holding something.

包ほう丁ちょうの手て元もとが滑すべりやすい。
The handle of the kitchen knife is slippery.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉が手て元もとにあるto have something within reach/at hand
辞じ書しょが手て元もとにあるので、すぐ調しらべられる。
I have a dictionary at hand, so I can look it up right away.
〈人ひと〉の手て元もとを見みるto watch someone's hand movements (to learn a skill)
先せん生せいの手て元もとを見みて、切きり方かたを覚おぼえた。
I watched the teacher's hands and learned how to cut it.
手て元もとにお金かねがないto have no money on hand right now
今いまは手て元もとにお金かねがなくて、支し払はらいができない。
I don't have any money on hand right now, so I can't pay.
〈物もの〉の手て元もとが滑すべるfor the grip/handle of something to slip
雨あめで傘かさの手て元もとが滑すべって、危あぶなかった。
The handle of the umbrella got slippery in the rain, which was dangerous.
〈物もの〉を手て元もとに置おくto keep something close at hand
大だい事じな書しょ類るいはいつも手て元もとに置おいている。
I always keep important documents close at hand.

Expressions

手て元もと現げん金きんcash on hand
手て元もとが狂くるうbecome clumsy; miss one's aim
手て元もとに届とどくarrive (of a thing); reach (someone)

Kanji

手hand
元beginning, former time, origin
許permit, approve

Related words

手て近ぢかN1sense 1
手元 emphasizes something physically close enough to touch with one's hand, while 手近 stresses general convenience or ease of access, not necessarily hand's reach.
現げん金きんN4sense 3
手元 in its money sense means cash one currently has available, while 現金 is the neutral term for cash itself regardless of where it is.
身み近ぢかN2sense 1
手元 refers narrowly to being within hand's reach, whereas 身近 is broader, meaning close to one's person or life in general.
手しゅ中ちゅうN1
手中 means figuratively having something in one's power or control, while 手元 usually refers to something being physically nearby or at hand.

Opposites

遠とおくN4sense 1
手元 describes something close enough to touch, while 遠く describes something far away and out of reach.

Don't confuse with

手て前まえN2
手元 and 手前 look similar but 手元 means 'at/near one's hand' while 手前 means 'this side, just in front of oneself' or, in humble speech, 'I/me'.
足あし元もとN2
足元 refers to the area around one's feet, while 手元 refers to the area near one's hands; learners can mix up which body part the idiom points to.

Word family

手て元もと金きん
cash on hand; ready money; spending money
手て元もと供く養よう
keeping ashes at home; memorial keepsake with ashes
手て元もと流りゅう動どう性せい
liquidity on hand; ready liquidity

Built from

手て+元もと

Written forms

手て元もとUsage78%
Standard kanji spelling; high priority.
手て許もとUsage11%
Uncommon variant; 許 is not a jōyō reading for this word.
手てもとUsage11%
Mixed kana spelling sometimes used for clarity or in learner materials.

Etymology

Compound of 手 (hand) and 元 (origin, base). Literally 'at the base of the hand', referring to things within reach or related to the hand.