お手 玉(てだま)

おてだま

noun

beanbag juggling, juggling beanbags

1. beanbag juggling, otedama

A traditional Japanese game of tossing and catching small fabric bags filled with beans or pellets, similar to juggling. Also refers to the beanbags themselves.

おばあちゃんにお手玉(てだま)を教(おそ)わった。

I learned otedama (beanbag juggling) from my grandmother.

お手玉(てだま)を5つ使(つか)って遊(あそ)ぶのは難(むずか)しい。

It's difficult to play with five beanbags.

手作(てづく)りのお手玉(てだま)を作(つく)った。

I made handmade beanbags.

TRADITIONAL GAME:

Traditionally played by girls
Often accompanied by 童謡(どうよう) (children's songs)
Passed down through generations

THE BAGS:

Filled with 小豆(あずき) (azuki beans), 数珠玉(じゅずだま) (Job's tears seeds), or plastic pellets
Made from colorful fabric, often in 俵(たわら)型(かた) (bale shape)
Typically play with 3-5 bags

PLAYING STYLES:

振(ふ)り玉(だま) (toss and catch from same hand)
寄(よ)せ玉(だま) (gather scattered beanbags)
Various patterns with counting songs

CULTURAL NOTE:

One of the 昔(むかし)の遊(あそ)び (traditional Japanese games)
Often taught at お正月(しょうがつ) (New Year) events
Part of cultural preservation activities in schools

COLLOCATIONS:

お手玉(てだま)をする (to play otedama)
お手玉(てだま)で遊(あそ)ぶ (to play with beanbags)
お手玉(てだま)を投(な)げる (to toss beanbags)

general

Added 2026.1.18 8:56 · Revised 2026.7.20 12:22

06500/06556_otedama