Bedeutung
A polite way to ask if someone possesses a particular item.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Japanese business, the 'handout' (shiryou) is sacred. Asking if it is 'at hand' is a way to ensure everyone is on the same page literally and figuratively before proceeding. Service staff use this phrase to avoid making the customer feel like they've done something wrong (like losing a ticket). It's a 'soft' check. Japanese culture has many words for 'space around a person' (like 'Ma' or 'Nawabari'). 'Otemoto' respects this invisible bubble. This phrase is a prime example of 'Sonkeigo' (respectful language) where the listener's environment is elevated.
The 'Spatial' Trick
If you can't touch it, don't use 'Otemoto'. It's for things within an arm's length.
Don't 'O' yourself
Never say 'Otemoto' when talking about your own hands. Just say 'Temoto'.
Bedeutung
A polite way to ask if someone possesses a particular item.
The 'Spatial' Trick
If you can't touch it, don't use 'Otemoto'. It's for things within an arm's length.
Don't 'O' yourself
Never say 'Otemoto' when talking about your own hands. Just say 'Temoto'.
Chopstick Connection
If you see 'Otemoto' written on a paper sleeve, it's just a fancy word for chopsticks!
Teste dich selbst
Which is the most appropriate way to ask a client if they have the contract you sent?
クライアントに：{契約書|けいやくしょ}は＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿？
While 'O-mochi desu ka' is okay, 'Otemoto ni gozaimasu ka' is the most professional and standard for documents in a business setting.
Fill in the missing honorific parts.
メニューは（ ）{手元|てもと}に（ ）か？
The set phrase is '{お手元|おてもと}にございますか？'.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
When would you use '{お手元|おてもと}にございますか？'?
This is a formal service-industry phrase.
Complete the dialogue.
Staff: {診察券|しんさつけん}は{お手元|おてもと}にございますか？ Patient: ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿。
The patient can answer with 'gozaimasu' (polite) or 'arimasu' (neutral-polite).
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgabenクライアントに：{契約書|けいやくしょ}は＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿？
While 'O-mochi desu ka' is okay, 'Otemoto ni gozaimasu ka' is the most professional and standard for documents in a business setting.
メニューは（ ）{手元|てもと}に（ ）か？
The set phrase is '{お手元|おてもと}にございますか？'.
When would you use '{お手元|おてもと}にございますか？'?
This is a formal service-industry phrase.
Staff: {診察券|しんさつけん}は{お手元|おてもと}にございますか？ Patient: ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿。
The patient can answer with 'gozaimasu' (polite) or 'arimasu' (neutral-polite).
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
4 FragenYes! In modern business, asking if a file is '{お手元|おてもと}' means 'Do you have it open on your screen/device?'.
Yes, it's polite (Teineigo). 'Gozaimasu' is just the 'premium' version (Sonkeigo).
Answer with '{手元|てもと}にはございません' or '{持|も}っておりません'.
Japanese avoids 'Anata' (you) because it can sound aggressive. 'Otemoto' avoids the word 'you' entirely.
Verwandte Redewendungen
お{持|も}ちですか？
synonymDo you have/hold it?
{手元|てもと}に{控|ひか}える
similarTo keep something at hand.
ご{用意|ようい}はありますか？
similarDo you have it prepared?
{手元|てもと}から{離|はな}れる
contrastTo leave one's hand/possession.
