Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

手数 (てすう, tesuu) Japanese meaning: trouble | Kotomora

手て数すう

also: てかず

て

す

う

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

trouble; bother; effort

Refers to the effort or trouble taken by someone, often used in expressions of gratitude or apology like お手数をおかけしてすみません.

お手て数すうですが、この

書しょ

類るい

に

ご

署しょ

名めい

ください

。

I'm sorry to trouble you, but please sign this document.

わざわざお越こしいただき、お手て数すうをおかけしました。

Thank you for coming all this way; I'm sorry for the trouble.

2

number of moves

Only with reading てかず

Used in go, shogi, and similar board games to count the number of moves played. Restricted to the reading てかず.

この対たい局きょくは手て数かずが長ながく、終しゅう盤ばんまで熱ねっ戦せんだった。
This game had a long number of moves and was fiercely contested until the end.

3

number of punches

Only with reading てかず

Boxing term for the count of punches thrown. Restricted to the reading てかず.

彼かれは手て数かずで相あい手てを上うわ回まわり、判はん定てい勝がちした。
He outpunched his opponent and won by decision.

Usage patterns

手て数すうがかかるto take extra effort/trouble
この手て続つづきは手て数すうがかかる。
This procedure takes a lot of extra effort.
お手て数すうですが〈動どう詞し〉sorry for the trouble, but could you...
お手て数すうですが、こちらにご記き入にゅうください。
Sorry for the trouble, but could you please fill this out?
手て数すうを省はぶくto save effort/steps
この方ほう法ほうで手て数すうを省はぶくことができる。
This method lets you save some steps.
手て数かずが多おおいto have made many moves (in a game)
この将しょう棋ぎの対たい局きょくは手て数かずが多おおい。
This shogi match involved a large number of moves.

Expressions

手て数すうをかけるcause trouble; be a burden; put someone out
お手て数すうをおかけいたしますto cause trouble; to be a burden

Kanji

手hand
数number, strength, fate

Related words

手て間まN3sense 1
手間 emphasizes the time and labor a task itself requires, while 手数 focuses on the trouble or inconvenience caused to another person.
面めん倒どうN3sense 1
面倒 describes something as bothersome or annoying in general, whereas 手数 specifically names the extra steps or effort someone has to expend.
迷めい惑わくN3sense 1
迷惑 stresses the unpleasant imposition placed on someone, while 手数 is more neutral, simply referring to the effort or steps involved.

Politeness

お手て数すう
手数 is the plain word for trouble or effort, while お手数 adds the honorific お to politely acknowledge the trouble caused to someone else.

Don't confuse with

手て数すう料りょうN2
手数 means 'trouble' or 'effort' someone goes to, while 手数料 is the actual monetary fee charged for that effort; learners often mix up the two despite the shared kanji.
手て続つづきN3
手数 shares the kanji 手 with 手続き but means trouble or effort involved in doing something, not a formal procedure.

Word family

手て数すう料りょうN2
fee; charge; commission

Built from

手て+数すう

Written forms

手数Usage100%
- てすう
  Standard kanji spelling for the common reading てすう.
- てかず
  Rare reading used in board games and boxing contexts.
てかず

Etymology

Compound of 手 (hand) and 数 (number). The reading てすう is a regular on'yomi combination, while てかず uses the kun'yomi for 数.