Translation and Meaning of: 手 - te

The Japanese word 手[て] is one of the most fundamental and versatile in the language. Its main meaning is "hand," but its usage goes far beyond that, appearing in everyday expressions, proverbs, and even technical terms. In this article, we will explore everything from the basics, such as writing and pronunciation, to cultural curiosities and tips for memorizing this essential kanji.

If you are learning Japanese, understanding 手[て] is crucial. It not only describes a part of the body but is also present in compound words and idiomatic phrases. In the Suki Nihongo dictionary, you will find practical examples, but here we will focus on the cultural context and the details that make this word so interesting.

Meaning and use of 手[て]

The primary meaning of 手[て] is "hand," but its use extends to concepts such as skill, help, and even side in a game or dispute. For example, 手伝う[てつだう] means "to help," showing how the idea of a hand connects with support. In more technical contexts, such as martial arts, 手 can refer to specific techniques or movements.

Another interesting aspect is the frequency with which this word appears in daily life. It is used in expressions like 手が空く[てがあく] (to be free, literally "the hands are empty") and 手を貸す[てをかす] (to lend a hand, meaning to help). This versatility makes 手[て] one of the first words that Japanese language learners need to master.

Origin and writing of the kanji 手

The kanji 手 has a clear pictographic origin: it represents a hand with extended fingers. Its simplified form retains this essence, making it relatively easy to recognize and write. According to the Kangorin dictionary, this character was already used in ancient Chinese before being incorporated into Japanese, maintaining its central meaning throughout the centuries.

A useful tip for memorizing the kanji 手 is to associate it with the image of a hand in action. Some students find a resemblance between the top stroke and a wrist, while the lower strokes resemble fingers. This visual approach can make learning easier, especially for those who are just starting to study kanji.

Cultural curiosities about 手[て]

In Japan, the hand (手) has a deep cultural significance. In traditional ceremonies like tea, hand movements follow specific protocols. Furthermore, expressions such as 手を合わせる[てをあわせる] (to bring the hands together in prayer) demonstrate how the physical and the spiritual connect through this word.

Another interesting fact is the use of 手 in the names of artistic techniques. In Noh theater, for example, there are 型[かた] (forms) that include specific hand positions. Even in mangas and animes, gestures with hands often carry symbolic meanings, reinforcing the cultural importance of this simple yet nuanced term.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 掌 (shō) - Palm of the hand
• 手のひら (te no hira) - Palm of the hand
• 手掌 (shushō) - Palm of the hand (more formal)
• 手の甲 (te no kō) - Back of the hand
• 手首から先 (tekubi kara saki) - From the wrist to the fingertips
• 手指 (teshi) - Dedos das mãos
• 手袋 (tebukuro) - gloves
• 手形 (tegata) - Handprint (or receipt/note)
• 手回し (temawashi) - Manual (or with hands)
• 手品 (tebina) - Magic or magic tricks
• 手際 (tegiwa) - Habilidade manual
• 手綱 (tazuna) - Reins (for guiding an animal)
• 手引き (tebiki) - Orientation or guide
• 手配 (tehai) - Organization or arrangement
• 手腕 (shuwan) - Manual capacity or skill
• 手順 (tejun) - Etapas ou procedimentos
• 手続き (tetsuzuki) - Formal processes or procedures
• 手筈 (tehazu) - Preparation or plan
• 手助け (tedasuke) - Support or help
• 手拭い (tenugui) - Hand towel
• 手招き (temaneki) - Hand invitation
• 手押し (teoshi) - Push with the hand
• 手抜き (tenuki) - Work done quickly or carelessly
• 手折り (teori) - Break with the hand
• 手押し車 (teoshi-sha) - Wheelbarrow
• 手押し式 (teoshi-shiki) - Hand-pushed type
• 手抜き仕事 (tenuki shigoto) - Careless work (in hand)
• 手抜き料理 (tenuki ryōri) - Quick or simplified cooking
• 手抜き洗濯 (tenuki sentaku) - Washing clothes in a hurry
• 手抜き掃除 (tenuki sōji) - Cleaning done quickly
• 手抜き作業 (tenuki sagyō) - Work done in a rushed manner
• 手抜き手帳 (tenuki techō) - Agenda with simplified information

手

Romaji: te
Kana: て
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: hand

Meaning in English: hand

Definition: Hand: The hand refers to the organ that consists of the palm and fingers at the end of the arm.

Example Sentences - (手) te

See below some example sentences:

私は道場で空手を習っています。

Watashi wa dōjō de karate o naratteimasu

I am learning karate in Dojo.

I'm learning karate in Dojo.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 道場 (doujou) - noun that means "dojo," a place for martial arts training
• で (de) - grammatical particle that indicates the place where an action occurs
• 空手 (karate) - noun meaning "karate", a Japanese martial art
• を (wo) - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 習っています (naratteimasu) - verb meaning "I'm learning"

私はスポーツが苦手です。

Watashi wa supōtsu ga nigate desu

I'm bad in sports.

I'm not good in sports.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• スポーツ (supootsu) - Katakana word meaning "sports"
• が (ga) - particle that marks the subject of the sentence, in this case "sports"
• 苦手 (nigate) - adjective that means "not being good at something", "having difficulty with something"
• です (desu) - verb "to be" in present tense

私は手紙を差し出す。

Watashi wa tegami wo sashidasu

I deliver the letter.

I give a letter.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 手紙 (tegami) - noun meaning "letter"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case "letter"
• 差し出す (sashidasu) - verb meaning "to deliver"

私は友達に料理を手伝う。

Watashi wa tomodachi ni ryouri o tetsudau

I help my friend cook.

I help my friends cook.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 友達 (tomodachi) - noun meaning "friend"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the target of the action, in this case, "friend"
• 料理 (ryouri) - noun that means "to cook" or "cuisine"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "to cook"
• 手伝う (tetsudau) - "Verb that means 'to help'"

私は古い切手を集めるのが好きです。

Watashi wa furui kitte o atsumeru no ga suki desu

I like to collect old stamps.

I like collecting old stamps.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 古い (furui) - adjective meaning "old"
• 切手 (kitte) - noun meaning "seal"
• を (wo) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• 集める (atsumeru) - verb meaning "to collect"
• のが (noga) - particle that connects the verb with the adjective and indicates that "collecting old stamps" is what the person likes to do
• 好き (suki) - adjective meaning "to like"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite form of the sentence

私は論文を書くのが苦手です。

Watashi wa ronbun o kaku no ga nigate desu

I have a hard time writing articles.

I'm not good at writing a dissertation.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 論文 (ronbun) - It means "academic work" or "thesis" in Japanese.
• を (wo) - direct object particle indicating the object of the action
• 書く (kaku) - Verb meaning "to write"
• のが (noga) - particle that indicates that the sentence is an explanation or justification.
• 苦手 (nigate) - adjective that means "not being good at something", "having difficulty"
• です (desu) - Verb "to be" in polite form

私は絵を描くのが下手です。

Watashi wa e o kaku no ga heta desu

I'm bad at drawing.

I'm not good at drawing.

• 私 - personal pronoun "I"
• は - topic particle, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "me"
• 絵 - noun "drawing, painting"
• を - direct object particle, indicates that "drawing" is the direct object of the action
• 描く - verb "to draw, to paint"
• のが - particle that indicates a nominal clause, in this case "the fact that"
• 下手 - adjective "bad, inexperienced"
• です - verb "to be", indicates that the sentence is in the present and is affirmative or formal

私の手帳は毎日使います。

Watashi no techou wa mainichi tsukaimasu

I use my notebook daily.

I use my notebook every day.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle that indicates possession, equivalent to "de" in English
• 手帳 - noun that means "agenda" or "notebook" in Japanese
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, equivalent to "about" or "regarding" in Portuguese
• 毎日 - adverb that means "every day" in Japanese
• 使います - The verb that means "to use" in Japanese, conjugated in the present affirmative is "使います" (tsukaimasu).

私は新しいプロジェクトを手掛ける予定です。

Watashi wa atarashii purojekuto o tegakeru yotei desu

I am planning to take on a new project.

I intend to work on a new project.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 新しい - adjective meaning "new"
• プロジェクト - noun meaning "project"
• を - direct object particle indicating the object of the action
• 手掛ける - verb that means "to deal with" or "to take on"
• 予定 - Noun that means "plan" or "schedule"
• です - verb to be in the present, which indicates the affirmation of the sentence

私の助手はとても優秀です。

Watashi no joshu wa totemo yuushu desu

My assistant is very good.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 助手 - noun meaning "assistant" or "helper"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 優秀 - adjective meaning "excellent" or "competent"
• です - verb indicating the state or action of being or being