How to say “hand” in Japanese
Native speakers say “te” to mean ‘hand’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain this word together with its related expressions. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners better understand how to say “hand” in Japanese. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
Definition and meaning of “te”
Let me start with the definition and meaning of “te”.
- te – 手 (て) : a noun meaning ‘hand’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
Native speakers use this noun normally to refer to a hand or hands in Japanese. In addition, they sometimes use this as a metaphor for a method or such. It’s worth knowing, I think.
The definition and meaning are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this noun through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “hand” in Japanese
kanojo wa itsumo boku no te wo nigiru – 彼女はいつも僕の手を握る (かのじょはいつもぼくのてをにぎる)
She always holds my hand.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kanojo” to make the subject in the sentence.
- itsumo – いつも : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘always’ in Japanese.
- boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
- no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its possessive case, “boku no”, which means ‘my’ in Japanese.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “boku no te” to make the object in the sentence.
- nigiru – 握る (にぎる) : a verb meaning ‘to hold’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “te”. In the example, it works together with the possessive case, “boku no”, to mean ‘my hand’ in Japanese. When we want to refer to a hand or hands in Japanese, this noun is a very good option.
Sometimes, however, we want to specifically refer to one hand or both hands in Japanese. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain two useful words meeting this need.
Katate: one hand in Japanese
Below is the Japanese word for ‘one hand’.
- katate – 片手 (かたて) : a noun meaning ‘one hand’ in Japanese.
The first kanji character is often used as a prefix to add the meaning of ‘one (of a pair)’. So, this kanji expression literally means ‘one hand’. Then, let me explain how to use this noun through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “one hand” in Japanese
kare wa watashi no kaban wo katate de hakon da – 彼は私の鞄を片手で運んだ (かれはわたしのかばんをかたてではこんだ)
He carried my bag with one hand.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
- watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. In the example, this works together with the case particle, “no”, to mean ‘my’ in Japanese.
- kaban – 鞄 (かばん) : a noun meaning ‘bag’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- de – で : a case particle used to say what means or method someone uses to do something. In the example, this is used after “katate” to say “with one hand” in Japanese.
- hakon – 運ん (はこん) : one conjugation of the verb, “hakobu“, which means ‘to carry’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
- da – だ : the voiced version of the auxiliary verb, “ta”, which is used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. In the example, this is used after “hakon” to make its past tense form, “hakon da”.
This is a typical usage of “katate”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “de”, to mean ‘with one hand’ in Japanese.
Ryoute: both hands in Japanese
Next, let me explain how to say “both hands” in Japanese.
- ryoute – 両手 (りょうて) : a noun meaning ‘both hands’ in Japanese.
The first kanji character is often used as a prefix to add the meaning of ‘both’. So, this kanji expression literally means ‘both hands’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this noun through the example sentences below.
Example #3: how to say “both hands” in Japanese
imouto wa ryoute de neko wo mochiage ta – 妹は両手で猫を持ち上げた (いもうとはりょうてでねこをもちあげた)
My little sister lifted the cat with both hands.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- imouto – 妹 (いもうと) : a noun meaning ‘little sister’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- neko – 猫 (ねこ) : a noun meaning ‘cat’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- mochiage – 持ち上げ (もちあげ) : one conjugation of the verb, “mochiageru”, which means ‘to lift’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
- ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form. In the example, this is used after “mochiage” to make its past tense form.
This is a typical usage of “ryoute”. Thanks to the help of the prefix, we can understand that she used both hands. When we want to specifically refer to both hands in Japanese, this word is a very good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “te” together with its related expressions. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- te – 手 (て) : a noun meaning ‘hand’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Native speakers use this noun normally to refer to a hand or hands in Japanese. In addition, they sometimes use this as a metaphor for a method or such. It’s worth knowing, I think.
- katate – 片手 (かたて) : a noun meaning ‘one hand’ in Japanese. These two kanji characters literally mean ‘one hand’.
- ryoute – 両手 (りょうて) : a noun meaning ‘both hands’ in Japanese. These two kanji characters literally mean ‘both hands’.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
