～手

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Suffix attached to nouns or verb stems to indicate a person who performs that action or role. For example, 『歌手』 (kashu, 'singer') from 『歌』 (uta, 'song') + 『手』 (te, 'player').

Theme

During a school club meeting, User and their classmate Mika are discussing roles for an upcoming event and use a term to describe participants.

～手

～て

～ player, person who does ～

People & IdentityOccupations & Roles

Memory Hook

Think of '～手' (～te, '～ player') as a 'hand' that does something — like a 'player' in a game or a 'person' who performs an action. For example, a 『歌手』 (kashu, 'singer') is a 'song-hand' or person who sings.

Cultural Note

The suffix 『～手』 (～te, '～ player') is commonly used in Japanese to denote people who perform specific roles or activities, such as in sports (e.g., 『選手』 senshu, 'athlete'), music (e.g., 『ギタリスト』 gitarisuto, 'guitarist' often called 『ギター手』 gitāte), or games (e.g., 『プレイヤー』 pureiyā, 'player'). It emphasizes the person's active involvement in an action.

Forms

Base: ～手Suffix attached to nouns or verb stems to indicate a person who performs that action or role. For example, 『歌手』 (kashu, 'singer') from 『歌』 (uta, 'song') + 『手』 (te, 'player').