Hands and skill with 手
The kanji 手 begins with the concrete meaning of a hand.
Because hands grasp, perform, and control action, the character extends to skill, method, means, and the person on the other end of an action. 手 often signals doing, handling, or the human agent involved.
Etymology
This kanji is an ancient pictogram. It is the shape of a hand, old forms as a drawing of fingers and palm.
Ability and Aptitude
苦手 (Weak point)
苦手 means something one is bad at, uncomfortable with, or not fond of. It often refers to a personal weak area rather than total inability.
It combines 苦 (difficult) with 手 (skill) to show a skill area that feels difficult.
Urushi asks Rin about what Ayumu was like in middle school.
- うるし:
- 「真面目だけど少し抜けてていつも真剣で勉強苦手でスポーツ万能か」
- “Serious but a bit absent-minded, always earnest, struggles with academics, but excels at sports, huh?”
Effort and Labor
手間 (Time and effort)
手間 means time, labor, or effort spent on doing something. It often refers to the trouble or work required for a task, especially when that work takes more attention or exertion than expected.
It combines 手 (hand) with 間 (interval) to show the time and labor taken up by the hands.
Hinagiku wants to see behind Rindou’s mask. Since Sazanka was scolded for trying the same, Hinagiku suggests they team up to take Rindou’s mask away. Asagao opposes the proposition, but Sazanka immediately quiets her by offering a bribe for her support.
- ヒナギク:
- 「ふーん。そっちでアサガオ買収してくれるなんて、ノリ気じゃない。」
- “Hmm. If you're willing to bribe Asagao on your side, you're pretty into this, aren't you?”
- 「私の術で言うこときかせる手間が省けたわ。」
- “Saves me the trouble using my technique to make her do as I say.”
People and Roles
相手 (Partner)
相手 means a partner, opponent, or the other party in an interaction. It is the person whose hand meets yours in the exchange.
It combines 相 (other party) with 手 (hand) to show the person you deal with.
Akari encounters an older gentleman looking for a police box, so he can report his missing daughter and son-in-law. Akari offers to take him around and see if they can find the couple. Once they are reunited, the daughter thanks Akari for finding her father.
- 娘:
- 「迷子になった父の相手をするの大変でしたでしょ？」
- “It must have been tough dealing with my dad when he got lost, right?”
- 「本当ガンコおやじで…」
- “He really is a stubborn old man...”
- 父さん:
- 「迷子と言うなっ」
- “Don't say lost!”
- 「うるさい」
- “Annoying...”