手(て)のひら

てのひら
noun
palm of the hand
body-part
1. palm of the hand
The inner surface of the hand between the wrist and fingers.
手(て)のひらに汗(あせ)をかく。
To sweat on the palms of one's hands.
手(て)のひらを見(み)せる。
To show one's palm.
手(て)のひらサイズのカメラ。
A palm-sized camera.
赤(あか)ちゃんの手(て)のひらはとても小(ちい)さい。
A baby's palm is very small.
手(て)のひらを返(かえ)すように態度(たいど)が変(か)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(て)のひら is composed of 手(て) (hand) + ひら (flat surface). It refers to the inner surface of the hand, the palm.

Writing

Can be written as 掌(てのひら) with a single kanji, though the hiragana form is more common.

Common patterns

Common expressions

手(て)のひらを返(かえ)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 words

Related Words

Antonym: 手(て)の甲(こう) (back of the hand)
Related: 指(ゆび) (finger)
Related: 手首(てくび) (wrist)
Related: 拳(こぶし) (fist)
Compare: 掌(たなごころ) (palm of the hand)
Related: 握(にぎ)りこぶし (clenched fist)
core
Added 2026.1.16 14:20 · Revised 2026.10.4 9:59
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