手
hand
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Pictograph depicting a hand with five fingers.
Symbolism
Skill, work, assistance. Represents human agency.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
自分勝手
じぶんかって
selfishness; egotism; egoism; selfishness
手前味噌
てまえみそ
self-flattery; singing one's own praises; self-flattery
手練手管
てれんてくだ
wiles; art of coaxing; wiles
徒手空拳
としゅくうけん
being empty-handed; being penniless; having no capital (for starting a business); being empty-handed
得手勝手
えてかって
self-willed; (doing or saying things) to suit one's own convenience; self-willed
拱手傍観
きょうしゅぼうかん
stand idly by and watch; stand idly by and watch
袖手傍観
しゅうしゅぼうかん
looking on with folded arms (with one's hands in one's sleeves); remaining a passive onlooker; looking on with folded arms (with one's hands in one's sleeves)
拍手喝采
はくしゅかっさい
clapping and cheering; applause; clapping and cheering
手前勝手
てまえがって
self-centered; self-centred; selfish; self-centered
常套手段
じょうとうしゅだん
one's habitual practice; usual measure; old trick; one's habitual practice
眼高手低
がんこうしゅてい
able to criticize but not to create (criticise); able to criticize but not to create (criticise)
高手小手
たかてこて
bound hands and arms; bound hands and arms
先手必勝
せんてひっしょう
victory goes to the one who makes the first move; being quick to take action leads to victory; the early bird gets the worm; victory goes to the one who makes the first move
強硬手段
きょうこうしゅだん
tough measure; firm step; strong measure; tough measure
赤手空拳
せきしゅくうけん
barehanded; having no wealth or position to rely on (aside from one's own resourcefulness) (when embarking on something); barehanded
手枷足枷
てかせあしかせ
manacles; shackles; fetters; manacles
無手勝流
むてかつりゅう
winning without fighting; method used to win without fighting; one's own way of doing things (i.e. as different from that of one's instructor); winning without fighting
鬼手仏心
きしゅぶっしん
compassionate ruthlessness; merciless scalpel of a merciful surgeon; a demon's hand and a Buddha's heart; compassionate ruthlessness
Proverbs & Idioms
手八丁口八丁
てはっちょうくちはっちょう
Skillful hands and skillful mouth
Being clever with both words and actions
手を替え品を替え
てをかえしなをかえ
Trying different hands and different goods
Trying various approaches
Poetry
秋の田の かりほの庵の 苫をあらみ わが衣手は 露にぬれつつ
Poem #1 from Hyakunin Isshu
君がため 春の野に出でて 若菜つむ わが衣手に 雪はふりつつ
Poem #15 from Hyakunin Isshu
このたびは ぬさもとりあへず 手向山 紅葉のにしき 神のまにまに
Poem #24 from Hyakunin Isshu
春の夜の 夢ばかりなる 手枕に かひなく立たむ 名こそ惜しけれ
Poem #67 from Hyakunin Isshu
世の中は つねにもがもな 渚こぐ あまの小舟の 綱手かなしも
Poem #93 from Hyakunin Isshu