利き手
The English phrase 'handedness' is translated into Japanese as 利き手.
The term 利き手 is used to specify which hand a person is more proficient with, rather than just the abstract concept of 'handedness'.
Meaning: preference for using the right or left hand (noun)
Did you know?
- In Japanese schools, students were historically encouraged or forced to switch their 利き手 from left to right to conform to social norms.
- While 利き手 refers to the hand, Japanese has specific terms for 'tasting' or 'smelling' something to identify it, using the same 利き root, such as 利き酒 for sake tasting.
- The verb within 利き手 is the same 利(き)く used to describe how a tool or a medicine 'works' or is 'effective'.
Examples in context
- 利き手がない方People who don't have a dominant hand.
- あいつは左利きだって知ってた？Did you know that guy is left-handed?
- 利き手はどちらですか？Kikite wa dochira desu ka?Which is your preferred hand?
- 私の利き手は左手です。Watashi no kikite wa hidarite desu.My preferred hand is my left hand.
- 利き手と逆の手を使うのは難しい。Kikite to gyaku no te o tsukau no wa muzukashii.It is difficult to use the hand opposite my preferred hand.
Example conversation
Himari and Ren are talking about drawing in class.
- 陽葵 Himari蓮くん、利き手は右？Ren-kun, kikite wa migi?Ren, is your dominant hand the right one?
- 蓮 Renうん、右だよ。陽葵ちゃんは？Un, migi dayo. Himari-chan wa?Yeah, it's the right. How about you, Himari?
- 陽葵 Himari私は左が利き手なんだ。Watashi wa hidari ga kikite nanda.My dominant hand is the left.
- 蓮 Renへえ、左利きなんだね。Hee, hidarikiki nanda ne.Oh, so you're left-handed.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 利き手, CC BY-SA 4.0.
