手 間(てま)

てま

noun

time and effort, labor

1. time and effort, labor, trouble

The time and energy required to do something.

手間(てま)がかかる料理(りょうり)だ。

It's a dish that takes a lot of effort to make.

手間(てま)を省(はぶ)くために機械(きかい)を使(つか)う。

I use a machine to save time and effort.

お手間(てま)を取(と)らせて申(もう)し訳(わけ)ありません。

I'm sorry for the trouble.

Polite expression

Common patterns

手間(てま)がかかる (to take time and effort)
手間(てま)を省(はぶ)く (to save effort, to cut corners)
手間(てま)を惜(お)しまない (to spare no effort)
お手間(てま)を取(と)らせる (to cause trouble - polite)

Compounds

手間(てま)暇(ひま) (time and effort)
手間(てま)賃(ちん) (labor charge, fee for work)
二度(にど)手間(でま) (double work, having to do something twice)

Similar words

手間(てま): Time and labor (neutral)
面倒(めんどう): Trouble, bother (often implies annoyance)

Related Words

Related: 面倒(めんどう) (trouble)

Compare: 労力(ろうりょく) (labor)

general

Added 2026.1.12 18:38 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

03500/03554_tema