手(て)を出(だ)す

てをだす
expression
to get involved in; to try one's hand at; to lay a hand on
action
1. to get involved in; to try one's hand at
To start doing something new or to venture into an unfamiliar area.
株(かぶ)に手(て)を出(だ)した。
I tried my hand at stocks.
知(し)らない分野(ぶんや)に手(て)を出(だ)すのは危険(きけん)だ。
It's risky to get involved in an unfamiliar field.
あの投資(とうし)に手(て)を出(だ)さなければよかった。
I wish I hadn't gotten involved in that investment.
2. to lay a hand on; to resort to violence
To physically strike or harm someone.
子(こ)どもに手(て)を出(だ)すな。
Don't lay a hand on the child.
怒(おこ)っても絶対(ぜったい)に手(て)を出(だ)してはいけない。
No matter how angry you get, you must never resort to violence.
あいつは先(さき)に手(て)を出(だ)してきた。
He was the one who struck first.
3. to make a move on; to make advances toward
To attempt a romantic or sexual approach toward someone.
彼女(かのじょ)に手(て)を出(だ)すなよ。
Don't make a move on her.
後輩(こうはい)に手(て)を出(だ)したって噂(うわさ)が広(ひろ)まっている。
Rumors are spreading that he made advances on a junior colleague.
教師(きょうし)が生徒(せいと)に手(て)を出(だ)すなんて許(ゆる)されない。
It's unforgivable for a teacher to make advances on a student.

A versatile idiomatic expression with several distinct meanings depending on context. The literal meaning is "to put out one's hand," and each sense extends this image in a different direction.

Usage

  • Sense 1 often carries a nuance of recklessness or venturing into something one shouldn't. Frequently appears with negative outcomes.
  • Sense 2 specifically means physical violence. The phrase 先(さき)に手(て)を出(だ)す (to strike first) is very common.
  • Sense 3 implies unwanted or inappropriate romantic/sexual advances.

Common collocations

  • 手(て)を出(だ)すな: don't touch / don't get involved
  • 先(さき)に手(て)を出(だ)す: to make the first move (in a fight)
  • 手(て)を出(だ)さない方(ほう)がいい: better not to get involved

Similar words

  • 手(て)を付(つ)ける: to start on; to meddle with — similar to sense 1 but often implies beginning a task or tampering
  • 手(て)を貸(か)す: to lend a hand — has a positive connotation of helping, unlike 手(て)を出(だ)す which often implies recklessness

Related Words

Compare: 手(て)を貸(か)す (to lend a hand)
general
Added 2026.4.8 1:34 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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