noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'
fiddling with one's fingers; toying with something
Describes idly touching or playing with an object using one's fingers, often without a clear purpose.
彼は話しながら、ペンを手まさぐりしていた。
He was fiddling with a pen while talking.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'
groping with one's fingers; feeling around
Used when searching for something by touch, especially in the dark or when visibility is poor.
暗闇の中で、彼は手まさぐりでスイッチを探した。
In the darkness, he groped for the switch with his fingers.
弄る is a more general verb for touching, fiddling, or tampering with something, while 手まさぐり specifically emphasizes the action of the fingers and often implies aimless or searching movements.
Compound of 手 (hand) and まさぐり, the nominalized form of まさぐる (to grope, to fiddle with). The exact origin of まさぐる is uncertain, but it is likely a mimetic or native Japanese verb.