1.
untouched; not yet started; left as is
Describes something that has not been worked on, dealt with, or modified. Implies that no action has been taken on something that probably should be addressed.
宿題がまだ手付かずだ。
I still haven't touched my homework.
手付かずの書類が山積みになっている。
Untouched documents are piling up.
引っ越しから一週間経つのに、荷物はほとんど手付かずのままだ。
It's been a week since moving, but the luggage is still almost entirely untouched.
Literally 'without a hand being applied' — nothing has been done to the thing in question. Often carries an implication of neglect or procrastination.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 手付かずのまま — left untouched
- 手付かずの状態 — in an untouched state
- 手付かずの自然 — untouched nature, pristine wilderness
USAGE:
Used as a の-adjective before nouns (手付かずの仕事) or as a predicate (手付かずだ). The expression 手付かずの自然 (pristine nature) is a positive use, but in most contexts the word implies something that should have been dealt with.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 未着手 — not yet begun (more formal/business-oriented)
- そのまま — as it is, unchanged (neutral; 手付かず specifically implies no work has been done)