Vocabulary

What does 手を焼く (てをやく, te o yaku) mean?

手を焼く (てをやく, te o yaku) means to have a hard time dealing with, to be at a loss with (lit.: to burn one’s hand).

Quick facts
Reading	てをやく
Romaji	te o yaku
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)	N1

手を焼くてをやく

N1 · estimated, JLPT frameworkte o yaku

to have a hard time dealing with, to be at a loss with (lit.: to burn one’s hand)

Example sentences

わがままな客(きゃく)の対応(たいおう)に担当者(たんとうしゃ)も手(て)を焼(や)く。
The person in charge also has a hard time dealing with unreasonable customers.
何度(なんど)注意(ちゅうい)しても直(なお)らない部下(ぶか)の態度(たいど)に、課長(かちょう)もすっかり手(て)を焼(や)いている。
Even the section manager is completely at a loss over the subordinate’s attitude, which never improves no matter how many times he is warned.