1.
palm of the hand
The inner surface of the hand between the wrist and fingers.
手のひらに汗をかく。
To sweat on the palms of one's hands.
手のひらを見せる。
To show one's palm.
手のひらサイズのカメラ。
A palm-sized camera.
赤ちゃんの手のひらはとても小さい。
A baby's palm is very small.
手のひらを返すように態度が変わった。
Their attitude changed completely, like flipping a palm.
Idiom: 手のひらを返す means to do a complete about-face
手のひら is composed of 手 (hand) + ひら (flat surface). It refers to the inner surface of the hand, the palm.
ALTERNATIVE WRITING:
Can be written as 掌 with a single kanji, though the hiragana form is more common.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 手のひらに汗をかく: to sweat on one's palms (from nervousness)
- 手のひらサイズ: palm-sized
- 手のひらを合わせる: to press palms together (in prayer or greeting)
IDIOM:
手のひらを返す means to do a complete about-face — to suddenly and drastically change one's attitude or opinion, often in a negative sense (like betrayal or opportunism).
RELATED BODY PARTS:
- 手の甲: back of the hand
- 指: finger
- 手首: wrist
- 拳: fist
Related Words
Antonym:
手の甲 (back of the hand)