手(て)が離(はな)せない

てがはなせない
expression
too busy, unable to leave (what one is doing)
1. too busy to stop, unable to step away from work
Describes being so occupied with something that one cannot stop or attend to other matters.
今(いま)ちょっと手(て)が離(はな)せないので、後(あと)で電話(でんわ)します。
I can't step away right now, so I'll call you back later.
料理(りょうり)中(ちゅう)で手(て)が離(はな)せない。
I'm in the middle of cooking and can't leave it.
赤(あか)ちゃんから手(て)が離(はな)せない。
I can't take my hands off the baby (need to watch constantly).

STRUCTURE: 手(て) (hand) + が + 離(はな)せない (cannot release). Literally 'cannot release one's hands' from something.

CONTRAST:

  • 手(て)が離(はな)せない: currently occupied, cannot stop
  • 手(て)が空(あ)く: to become free, have free time
  • 手(て)が足(た)りない: short-handed, not enough help

RELATED EXPRESSIONS:

  • 取(と)り込(こ)んでいる (busy, occupied)
  • 手(て)が塞(ふさ)がっている (hands are full)

USAGE: Common polite way to decline or postpone requests when busy. Less abrupt than simply saying 'busy.'

Related Words

Contrast: 目(め)が離(はな)せない (can't take eyes off)
core
Added 2026.1.18 19:03 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
06500/06889_tegahanasenai