手玉(てだま)

てだま
noun
small beanbag; juggling ball
leisure
1. small beanbag; juggling ball
A small ball or beanbag, as used in the traditional game お手玉(てだま). In everyday Japanese it appears mostly in the idiom 手玉(てだま)に取(と)る.
子(こ)どもが手玉(てだま)で遊(あそ)んでいる。
A child is playing with beanbags.
彼女(かのじょ)は相手(あいて)を手玉(てだま)に取(と)った。
She wrapped her opponent around her finger.
交渉(こうしょう)相手(あいて)を手玉(てだま)に取(と)って、有利(ゆうり)な条件(じょうけん)を引(ひ)き出(だ)した。
He played the other party at the negotiating table and drew out favorable terms.

Common expressions

  • 手玉(てだま)に取(と)る: to manipulate someone at will; to wrap someone around one's finger

Usage

Outside this idiom, the toy and the game are usually called お手玉(てだま).

general
Added 2026.5.25 13:08 · Revised 2026.10.14 9:59
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