A1 Idiom 中性 1分钟阅读

手が空く

te ga aku

Be free / Have spare time

开始练习

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use {手が空く|てがあく} when you have finished your current tasks and are ready to do something else.

  • Means: To be free from work or busy tasks.
  • Used in: Asking for help, checking availability, or offering assistance.
  • Don't confuse: It is not about physical space, but about your schedule.
Clock + Empty Hands = Available for a chat

适合你水平的解释：

This phrase means you are not busy. You use it to tell people you can help them now.
It describes being free from tasks. You can use it to ask if a friend has time to talk or help you with something.
This idiom refers to having a gap in one's schedule. It is a polite way to initiate a request for assistance or social interaction by first confirming the other person's current workload.
Used to denote the cessation of active tasks, this phrase functions as a social lubricant. It allows speakers to navigate professional or personal boundaries by verifying availability before imposing a new request.
The phrase functions as a pragmatic marker of availability. By focusing on the 'emptiness' of the hands, it metaphorically signals a transition from a state of occupation to one of potentiality, allowing for the negotiation of time and labor in various social hierarchies.
Rooted in the cognitive mapping of labor to physical action, this idiom exemplifies the Japanese tendency to externalize internal states. It serves as a sophisticated tool for managing interpersonal expectations, balancing the cultural imperative of productivity with the necessity of social flexibility.

意思

To have some free time from work or tasks.

🌍

文化背景

Asking if someone is free is a way of showing respect for their time. It is common to use this to avoid being pushy. Historically, it refers to a master craftsman finishing a task.

💡

Use it to be polite

Always check if someone is free before asking for a favor.

⚠️

Don't use with superiors

Use more formal language with bosses.

💡

Use it to be polite

Always check if someone is free before asking for a favor.

⚠️

Don't use with superiors

Use more formal language with bosses.

🎯

The 'te-iru' form

Remember to use 'te-iru' for the state of being free.

自我测试

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

今、手が＿＿＿＿＿ですか？

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 空いて

We use the 'te-iru' form for current states.

Which is the most natural way to ask a friend?

Choose the best option.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 手が空いてる？

Casual speech drops the 'i' in 'iru'.

Match the phrase to its meaning.

Match '手が空く' to the English equivalent.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： To be free

It means having no tasks.

Complete the dialogue.

A: 手が空いたら手伝って。 B: ＿＿＿＿＿。

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： はい、空いています。

Confirming current state.

🎉 得分： /4

视觉学习工具

练习题库

5 练习
选择正确答案 Fill Blank

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案：
Fill in the blank with the correct form. Fill Blank A1

今、手が＿＿＿＿＿ですか？

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 空いて

We use the 'te-iru' form for current states.

Which is the most natural way to ask a friend? Choose A2

Choose the best option.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 手が空いてる？

Casual speech drops the 'i' in 'iru'.

Match the phrase to its meaning. Match A1

将左侧的每个项目与右侧的配对匹配:

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： To be free

It means having no tasks.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion B1

A: 手が空いたら手伝って。 B: ＿＿＿＿＿。

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： はい、空いています。

Confirming current state.

🎉 得分： /5

常见问题

8 个问题

It is better to use 'お時間ありますか' for superiors.

No, it works for any task or social situation.

Use '手が離せません' (I can't let go of my hands).

It is neutral.

Use '手が空きました'.

Yes, but '暇' is more common for leisure.

It's a metaphor for being able to work.

Yes, very.

相关表达

🔗

余裕がある

similar

To have leeway

🔗

忙しい

contrast

Busy

🔗

暇がある

similar

To have free time

在哪里用

💻

Office Help

A: 手が空いたら、これを見てくれませんか？

B: はい、今手が空いていますよ。

neutral
☕

Coffee Break

A: 手が空いた？コーヒー行こう！

B: うん、ちょうど手が空いたところ！

informal

记住它

记忆技巧

Imagine a worker putting down their tools and opening their hands to say 'I'm ready!'

视觉联想

A person sitting at a desk with empty hands, looking at a clock that shows they are done.

Story

Ken finished his report. He looked at his desk. His hands were empty. He smiled and asked his friend, 'Are you free?'

In Other Languages

Similar to 'having one's hands free' in English or 'avoir les mains libres' in French.

Word Web

忙しい暇手伝う余裕仕事時間

挑战

Use the phrase in a conversation today when you finish a task.

Review in 1, 3, 7, and 14 days.

发音

重音 Flat pitch accent.

Clear pronunciation of each syllable.

正式程度

正式
お手が空いていらっしゃいますか？

お手が空いていらっしゃいますか？ (Checking availability)

中性
手が空いていますか？

手が空いていますか？ (Checking availability)

非正式
手、空いてる？

手、空いてる？ (Checking availability)

俚语
暇？

暇？ (Checking availability)

Derived from the physical act of a craftsman setting down tools. It signifies the transition from labor to rest or readiness.

Edo Period:
Modern:

趣味小知识

It is one of the few idioms that translates almost perfectly into several European languages.

文化笔记

Asking if someone is free is a way of showing respect for their time.

“お手が空いていらっしゃいますか？”

It is common to use this to avoid being pushy.

“手が空いていたら、また連絡します。”

Historically, it refers to a master craftsman finishing a task.

“手が空いたので、次の仕事にかかります。”

对话开场白

“

今、手が空いていますか？

“

手が空いたら何をしたいですか？

“

忙しい時、どうやって手が空く時間を作りますか？

常见错误

✗

手が空いていますか？ (To someone busy)

✓

お忙しいところすみません (Sorry to bother you while you're busy)

wrong context
Asking if someone is free when they are clearly busy is rude.

L1 Interference

0 1
✗

手が空く人 (A person who is free)

✓

手が空いている人

wrong conjugation
You need the state form 'te-iru' to describe a person.

L1 Interference

0
✗

手が空く時間 (Free time)

✓

手が空いている時間

wrong conjugation
Again, use the state form for descriptive phrases.

L1 Interference

0

In Other Languages

Spanish Very Similar

Estar libre

Japanese uses a body part metaphor.

French Very Similar

Avoir les mains libres

Usage is almost identical.

German Very Similar

Die Hände frei haben

Very similar cultural usage.

Japanese moderate

余裕がある

More abstract than 'hands'.

Arabic moderate

لديه وقت فراغ

Lacks the body-part metaphor.

Spotted in the Real World

📺

(2019)

“手が空いてる時、話そう。”

Asking a housemate to chat.

📱

(2023)

“仕事で手が空いたのでツイート。”

Updating status during a break.

🎧

(2022)

“手が空いたら、また来てください。”

Inviting listeners back.

容易混淆

手が空く 对比 手が離せない

Both involve 'hands'.

手が離せない means 'I am too busy to stop'.

手が空く 对比 手が足りない

Both involve 'hands'.

手が足りない means 'short-staffed'.

手が空く 对比 手がかかる

Both involve 'hands'.

手がかかる means 'to be time-consuming/demanding'.

常见问题 (8)

It is better to use 'お時間ありますか' for superiors.

usage contexts

No, it works for any task or social situation.

usage contexts

Use '手が離せません' (I can't let go of my hands).

common mistakes

It is neutral.

basic understanding

Use '手が空きました'.

grammar mechanics

Yes, but '暇' is more common for leisure.

comparisons

It's a metaphor for being able to work.

basic understanding

Yes, very.

basic understanding

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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