手間取(てまど)る

てまどる
verb (godan, intransitive)
to take time; to be delayed; to have difficulty
1. to take time; to be time-consuming; to have difficulty with
To spend more time than expected on something, often due to complications or difficulty.
準備(じゅんび)に手間取(てまど)って遅刻(ちこく)した。
I was late because the preparations took longer than expected.
書類(しょるい)の手続(てつづ)きに手間取(てまど)っている。
I'm having difficulty with the paperwork procedures.
思(おも)った以上(いじょう)に手間取(てまど)ってしまった。
It took more time than I thought.

TRANSITIVITY:
自動詞(じどうし) (intransitive)
Pattern: [task]に手間取(てまど)る

ASPECT:
手間取(てまど)っている indicates currently struggling with something time-consuming.

CONJUGATION:

  • 手間取(てまど)らない (negative)
  • 手間取(てまど)って (te-form)
  • 手間取(てまど)った (past)

FORMATION:
手間(てま) (time and effort) + 取(と)る (to take)

COLLOCATIONS:

  • 準備(じゅんび)に手間取(てまど)る - to take time with preparations
  • 作業(さぎょう)に手間取(てまど)る - to struggle with work
  • 予想(よそう)以上(いじょう)に手間取(てまど)る - to take longer than expected

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 時間(じかん)がかかる - to take time (neutral)
  • 苦労(くろう)する - to have difficulty
  • 手(て)こずる - to have trouble with

Related Words

Related: 手間(てま) (time and effort)
Synonym: 手(て)こずる (to have trouble)
core
Added 2026.1.19 12:02 · Revised 2026.1.24 23:24
07000/07175_temadoru