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)
expression
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)手(て)が離(はな)せないんです。
I can't step away right now.
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.
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.
締(し)め切(き)り前(まえ)で手(て)が離(はな)せないから、今日(きょう)の飲(の)み会(かい)は行(い)けない。ごめんね。
I'm tied up before the deadline, so I can't make it to today's drinking party. Sorry.

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

Similar words

Related words

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

Related Words

Compare: 目(め)が離(はな)せない (can't take eyes off)
Compare: 手(て)が空(あ)く (to become free)
core
Added 2026.1.18 19:03 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:05
06500/06889_tegahanasenai