手(て)の甲(こう)

てのこう
noun
back of the hand
1. back of the hand
The dorsal side of the hand, opposite to the palm.
手(て)の甲(こう)が赤(あか)い。
The back of my hand is red.
手(て)の甲(こう)を見(み)せてください。
Please show me the back of your hand.
手(て)の甲(こう)に日焼(ひや)け止(ど)めをしっかり塗(ぬ)った。
I thoroughly applied sunscreen on the back of my hand.
冬(ふゆ)になると手(て)の甲(こう)が乾燥(かんそう)して、ひび割(わ)れしやすくなる。
In winter, the back of my hands gets dry and tends to crack.
手(て)の甲(こう)は紫外線(しがいせん)の影響(えいきょう)を受(う)けやすいので、外(そと)に出(で)るときは日焼(ひや)け止(ど)めを塗(ぬ)ったほうがいい。
The back of the hand is easily affected by UV rays, so it's better to apply sunscreen when going out.

COMPOSITION: 手(て) (hand) + の (possessive) + 甲(こう) (shell, carapace, back). The character 甲(こう) refers to the hard outer surface, as in a turtle's shell.

CONTRAST:

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 手(て)の甲(こう)で拭(ふ)く (to wipe with the back of the hand)
  • 手(て)の甲(こう)にキスをする (to kiss the back of the hand)
  • 手(て)の甲(こう)のシミ (age spots on the back of the hand)
  • 手(て)の甲(こう)に塗(ぬ)る (to apply to the back of the hand)

USAGE NOTE: 手(て)の甲(こう) is commonly mentioned in contexts of:

  • Skincare and sun protection
  • Gestures and body language
  • Medical examinations (checking veins, IV placement)

RELATED BODY PARTS:

Related Words

Antonym: 手(て)のひら (palm)
Related: 二(に)の腕(うで) (upper arm)
core
Added 2026.1.17 22:34 · Revised 2026.7.10 9:45
06000/06438_tenokou