1.
dominant hand; stronger hand; writing hand
The hand a person naturally prefers to use for tasks like writing, eating, and throwing.
Refers to the hand a person naturally favors for tasks like writing and eating.
Forms
利く (to be effective) + 手 (hand). The 利き prefix means 'dominant' or 'preferred.'
Compounds
Writing
Usually written in mixed kana/kanji as 利き手 rather than all kanji.
Cultural note
In Japan, being left-handed (左利き) was traditionally corrected to right-handedness, though this practice has become less common in recent generations.