手際

• Reading: てぎわ
• Romaji: tegiwa
• Kanji breakdown: 手 (te) — hand; 際 (giwa) — edge, boundary, occasion
• Pronunciation: /te.ɡi.wa/

Meaning

Skill; dexterity; the ability to handle tasks efficiently and smoothly.

A noun describing how skilfully and efficiently someone carries out a task. Almost always appears in evaluative expressions: 手際がいい (skilful, efficient), 手際が悪い (clumsy, inefficient), or 手際よく (deftly, efficiently). Focuses on the quality of execution rather than innate talent. Commonly used when praising someone's practical ability in cooking, work, or craftsmanship.

Examples

1. あの料理人は手際がよくて見ていて気持ちがいい。 That chef is so skilled and efficient — it's a pleasure to watch.
2. 引っ越しの作業員が手際よく荷物を運んでくれた。 The movers handled our belongings deftly and efficiently.
3. 手際が悪いと時間ばかりかかってしまう。 If you're clumsy about it, everything just takes forever.

Usage Guide

Context: cooking, work, craftsmanship, daily life

Tone: appreciative

Origin & History

From 手 (te, hand) + 際 (giwa, edge/boundary/moment). Literally 'the edge of the hand's work,' referring to the fine line between skilled and unskilled execution — how well one handles things at the critical moment.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal