手元

• Reading: てもと
• Romaji: temoto
• Kanji breakdown: 手 (te/shu) — hand; 元 (moto/gen) — base, origin, vicinity
• Pronunciation: /te.mo.to/

Meaning

At hand; close by; nearby. Refers to the area within arm's reach or things in one's possession.

A noun and adverb describing the area immediately around one's hands or within easy reach. Used in several common patterns: 手元にある (to have at hand), 手元に届く (to arrive/be delivered), 手元に置く (to keep nearby). Can also refer to one's personal finances — 手元にお金がない (to have no money on hand). In sports and crafts, refers to hand technique or dexterity — 手元が狂う (one's hands slip).

Examples

1. 必要な書類は手元に置いておいてください。 Please keep the necessary documents close at hand.
2. 手元に現金がなくてカードで払った。 I didn't have any cash on hand, so I paid by card.
3. スマホが手元にないと不安になる。 I get anxious when my phone isn't within reach.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, office, finance

Tone: practical

Origin & History

From native Japanese: 手 (te, hand) + 元 (moto, base/origin/vicinity). The compound describes the area at the base of one's hands — the immediate space around a person where things are within reach.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal