手続き

• Reading: てつづき
• Romaji: tetsuzuki
• Kanji breakdown: 手 (te) — hand; 続 (tsuzuku/zuki) — continue, follow
• Pronunciation: /te.tsɯ.zɯ.ki/

Meaning

Procedure; process; formalities. Steps required to complete an official task.

Very common in administrative and bureaucratic contexts. Collocates with する (to carry out a procedure) and 済ませる (to get formalities done). Used at city halls, banks, hospitals, and immigration offices. Essential for daily life in Japan.

Examples

1. 引っ越しの手続きを今週中に終わらせたい。 I want to finish the moving paperwork by the end of this week.
2. パスポートの手続きにはどのくらいかかりますか。 How long does the passport application process take?
3. 入学手続きは三月末までに済ませてください。 Please complete the enrollment procedures by the end of March.

Usage Guide

Context: administration, banking, government offices

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 手 (te, hand) and 続き (tsuzuki, continuation). Literally 'hand-continuing,' evoking the step-by-step process of handling paperwork.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal