1.
to get involved in; to try one's hand at
To start doing something new or to venture into an unfamiliar area.
株に手を出した。
I tried my hand at stocks.
知らない分野に手を出すのは危険だ。
It's risky to get involved in an unfamiliar field.
あの投資に手を出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.
子どもに手を出すな。
Don't lay a hand on the child.
怒っても絶対に手を出してはいけない。
No matter how angry you get, you must never resort to violence.
あいつは先に手を出してきた。
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.
彼女に手を出すなよ。
Don't make a move on her.
後輩に手を出したって噂が広まっている。
Rumors are spreading that he made advances on a junior colleague.
教師が生徒に手を出すなんて許されない。
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 先に手を出す (to strike first) is very common.
- Sense 3 implies unwanted or inappropriate romantic/sexual advances.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 手を出すな: don't touch / don't get involved
- 先に手を出す: to make the first move (in a fight)
- 手を出さない方がいい: better not to get involved
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 手を付ける: to start on; to meddle with — similar to sense 1 but often implies beginning a task or tampering
- 手を貸す: to lend a hand — has a positive connotation of helping, unlike 手を出す which often implies recklessness