1.
to start on; to begin working on
To begin doing something, especially a task or project that one has been putting off or hasn't addressed yet.
宿題に手をつける。
To start on one's homework.
まだその仕事に手をつけていない。
I haven't started on that work yet.
忙しくて、新しいプロジェクトに手をつける余裕がない。
I'm too busy to start on the new project.
2.
to touch; to lay a hand on; to tamper with
To physically touch or handle something, often with the nuance of meddling with or tampering with something one shouldn't.
人のものに手をつけるな。
Don't touch other people's things.
貯金に手をつけたくない。
I don't want to dip into my savings.
証拠品に手をつけてはいけない。
You must not tamper with the evidence.
A common idiomatic expression using 手 (hand) and つける (to attach/apply). The two senses are connected: both involve putting one's hand to something, whether figuratively (starting work) or literally (touching/tampering).
USAGE:
Sense 1 is very common in everyday conversation, often in the negative (手をつけていない — haven't started yet). Sense 2 often implies doing something improper, such as spending savings one shouldn't or interfering with something.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 仕事に手をつける — to start work
- 貯金に手をつける — to dip into savings
- まだ手をつけていない — haven't started yet
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 取りかかる — to start on, to get down to (more formal)
- 着手する — to begin, to embark on (formal)
- 触る — to touch (physical touch, neutral)