手 数(てすう)

てすう

noun

trouble; bother; time and effort

1. trouble; bother; the effort something takes

The work and inconvenience involved in doing something, especially work imposed on someone else. Most often met in the polite apology お手数(てすう)をおかけします.

お手数(てすう)をおかけします。

Sorry to trouble you.

手数(てすう)のかかる作業(さぎょう)だ。

It's a job that takes a lot of effort.

お手数(てすう)ですが、書類(しょるい)をご確認(かくにん)いただけますでしょうか。

I'm sorry to trouble you, but could you please check the documents?

機械(きかい)を使(つか)えば手数(てすう)が省(はぶ)けるが、最初(さいしょ)の設定(せってい)が面倒(めんどう)だ。

Using a machine saves effort, but the initial setup is a nuisance.

Also read てかず in some fixed uses, but てすう is standard in modern polite speech.

Common collocations

お手数(てすう)をおかけします: sorry to trouble you
お手数(てすう)ですが: sorry to bother you, but... (softening a request)
手数(てすう)がかかる: to take time and effort
手数(てすう)を省(はぶ)く: to save effort
手数料(てすうりょう): handling fee, commission

Usage

In business email and service situations, お手数(てすう)ですが is one of the standard cushions placed before a request. Note that it apologizes for the burden on the listener — you would not use it about your own effort.

Related Words

Compare: 手間暇(てまひま) (time and effort)

general

Added 2026.8.6 0:24 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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