手書き（てがき、tegaki）
- handwriting

The Japanese word 手書き (てがき) means "handwritten," "written by hand," or "manuscript." It refers to something that is written or created using a person's hand, usually with a pen, pencil, or brush, instead of being produced by a machine like a printer or a computer. 手書き emphasizes the manual process of writing.

⚫︎ 手書きのメモ ・Translation: Handwritten memo ⚫︎ 手書きの履歴書を提出してください。 ・Translation: Please submit a handwritten resume. ⚫︎ 彼女は手書きの手紙を書きました。 ・Translation: She wrote a handwritten letter.

You use 手書き when you want to specify that something was written by hand. It's often used when differentiating between something that is typed or printed versus something that is handwritten. You can use it in various contexts, such as describing letters, notes, documents, or even artwork. The word is generally used in formal and informal situations.

⚫︎ The word 手書き is typically written with the kanji 手 (te - hand) and the hiragana 書き (kaki - writing). ⚫︎ The reading is てがき (tegaki). ⚫︎ There are no other common ways to write this word. ⚫︎ The okurigana (送り仮名) "き" is always present.

⚫︎ 自筆 (じひつ - jihitsu): "In one's own handwriting," often used in more formal contexts. ⚫︎ 直筆 (じきひつ - jikihitsu): "Directly written by hand," often emphasizing the authenticity.

⚫︎ 印刷 (いんさつ - insatsu): Printing. ⚫︎ タイプ (taipu): Typing. ⚫︎ 活字 (katsuji): Printed characters or type.

この書類は手書きでお願いします。 ・Translation: Please write this document by hand. ・Explanation: This sentence specifies that the document needs to be handwritten and not typed or printed.

子供の描いた手書きの絵は宝物です。 ・Translation: The handwritten pictures drawn by the children are treasures. ・Explanation: This example emphasizes the value of the child's handwritten artwork.

The word 手書き is a compound word. 手 (te) means "hand," and 書き (kaki) is the stem of the verb 書く (kaku), which means "to write." Therefore, 手書き literally means "hand-writing." The combination of these two elements precisely describes the act of writing by hand.