To require a lot of care, attention, or effort; to be a handful (e.g., a child, pet, or task that needs much looking after).
あの子は夜泣きがひどくて本当に手がかかる。
That child cries a lot at night and is really a handful.
このプロジェクトは細かい確認が多くて手がかかる。
This project requires a lot of detailed checks and takes a lot of work.
年寄りの世話は思ったより手がかかるものだ。
Caring for the elderly requires more effort than expected.
新しい機械は導入に手がかかるが、慣れれば効率が上がる。
The new machine takes effort to set up, but once you get used to it efficiency improves.