1The hand or (sometimes) forearm of a person or animal — the body part used for grasping or touching. (Occasionally pronounced た as a prefix.)
手を洗ってから夕食を食べなさい。
Wash your hands before dinner.
彼は利き手で字を書く。
He writes with his dominant hand.
あの机は高さが合わなくて手が疲れる。
That desk doesn't fit well and makes my hands/arms tired.
彼女は手を挙げて質問した。
She raised her hand to ask a question.
2An animal's forepaw or foreleg (colloquial).
猫が前の手でおもちゃを押さえた。
The cat held the toy with its front paws.
子犬が前の手で私の靴にじゃれついた。
The puppy pawed at my shoe with its front paws.
3A handle — the part of an object used for holding, such as the handle of a teapot or basket (rarely used alone; often appears in compounds such as 取っ手).
急須の手が熱くなっていたので気をつけた。
The teapot's handle had gotten hot, so I was careful.
このかごは手が丈夫で持ちやすい。
This basket's handle is sturdy and easy to hold.
4A person or help — workers or assistance (e.g., manpower, a helping hand).
師走は猫の手も借りたいほど忙しい。
December is so busy that even a cat's paws would be welcome help.
引っ越しの日は人手が足りなくて困った。
We had trouble because there weren't enough hands on moving day.
友人に手を貸してもらって、引っ越しを終えた。
I got a friend's help and finished moving.
5Trouble, care, or effort required — indicating something that takes time or attention.
小さな子は本当に手がかかる。
Little children really take a lot of care/attention.
この機械は手がかかって維持が大変だ。
This machine requires a lot of maintenance; it's difficult to keep up.
6A means, method, trick, move, or technique — a way of doing something, skill, or a tactical move.
問題を解決するいい手を考えよう。
Let's think of a good way to solve the problem.
その手には乗らないよ。
I won't fall for that trick.
新しい手を打って状況を変えた。
They played a new move and changed the situation.
7Hand, referring to handwriting or style of writing (e.g., 手書き = handwritten).
履歴書は手書きではなくパソコンで作成してください。
Please type your resume on a computer rather than handwriting it.
彼女の手はきれいで読みやすい字だ。
Her handwriting is neat and easy to read.
8A kind, type, or sort — used to indicate a particular way or category (often in phrases like 'that kind of method').
その手の話にはもう興味がない。
I've lost interest in that kind of talk.
彼はいつもこの手のジョークが好きだ。
He always likes this kind of joke.
9Something being in one's hands/possession (used in expressions like 手に入る 'to obtain').
やっとチケットを手に入れた。
I finally got the ticket.
その情報が手に入れば仕事が早く進む。
If we get that information, the work will proceed faster.
新品を安く手に入れた。
I obtained a new one cheaply.
10The ability to cope or handle something (as in expressions like 手に余る 'beyond one's ability').
この仕事は私の手に余る。
This job is beyond my ability to handle.
部下の数が多くて管理が手に余ることがある。
Sometimes managing so many subordinates is more than I can handle.
11A hand in card games — the cards held or the position in a deal/round.
いい手が来たから勝てるかもしれない。
A good hand has come; we might win.
配られた手を見て、彼はにやりと笑った。
Looking at the hand he was dealt, he smirked.
12Used to indicate a direction or district (as in 山の手 'upmarket/upper part of town').
この駅の山手側には商店街がある。
On the Yamanote side of this station there is a shopping street.
あの方向が山手だと地図に書いてある。
The map shows that direction as the Yamanote area.
13A move in games like go or shogi — a single play/move, used as a counter (e.g., 一手, 二手).
彼はその場面で最善の一手を打った。
He played the best possible move in that situation.
次の一手を考えるのに時間がかかる。
It takes time to think about the next move.