1.
handmade, hand-kneaded
Made by hand rather than by machine, especially noodles (soba, udon) that are kneaded and cut by hand. A mark of quality and craftsmanship in Japanese food culture.
手打ちそばを食べた。
I ate handmade soba.
この店は毎朝手打ちで麺を作っている。
This shop makes its noodles by hand every morning.
手打ちうどんの独特なコシは機械打ちでは出せない。
The distinctive chewiness of handmade udon cannot be achieved with machine-made noodles.
2.
settlement, reconciliation, deal
A private settlement or agreement to end a dispute, often reached without going through formal legal channels. Can imply a behind-the-scenes deal or compromise.
両者は手打ちにした。
The two parties reached a settlement.
裁判にならず、示談で手打ちとなった。
It didn't go to trial and was settled out of court.
長く対立していた両グループが、ついに手打ちをして和解した。
The two groups that had been in conflict for a long time finally reached a settlement and reconciled.
USAGE:
Sense 1 (handmade) is extremely common in food contexts. 手打ちそば and 手打ちうどん are widely seen on restaurant signs and menus as a selling point indicating artisanal quality.
Sense 2 (settlement) carries a slightly informal or backroom nuance, suggesting a deal struck between parties without formal proceedings. In yakuza or historical contexts, 手打ち式 refers to a formal reconciliation ceremony.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 手打ちそば: handmade soba noodles
- 手打ちうどん: handmade udon noodles
- 手打ちにする: to settle (a dispute)
- 手打ち式: reconciliation ceremony