Describes actions or methods that are physically rough, forceful, or lacking gentleness. Often used for handling things or treating people.
He broke the box with rough handling.
警察の手荒な捜査が問題になった。
The police's heavy-handed investigation became an issue.
Standard kanji spelling.
Kana spelling is acceptable and common in informal writing.
Compound of 手 (hand, method) and 荒 (rough, violent). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the meaning is transparent from its components.