お手柔らかに

おてやわらかに
Alternative writings: 御手柔らかに
Frequency:
1

A polite request to be treated gently or leniently; used literally or figuratively (e.g., in contests, evaluations, or arguments) to ask for moderation.

Adverb

Examples

初めての対戦で『お手柔らかにお願いします』と相手に言った。

Before my first match I said to my opponent, 'Please go easy on me.'

面接官に『お手柔らかにお願いします』と言うのは場違いだから、代わりに丁寧な挨拶をしよう。

Saying 'please go easy on me' to an interviewer is inappropriate — instead, give a polite greeting.

冗談で『お手柔らかにね』と言ってから腕相撲を始めた。

Jokingly I said 'take it easy on me' and then we started arm-wrestling.

2

An expression meaning 'don't be too hard on me/us/them; go easy on me.' Commonly used as a polite request or greeting before an activity.

Expression

Examples

新人の挨拶で『これからよろしく、お手柔らかにお願いします』と言った。

In my newcomer's greeting I said, 'I look forward to working with you; please be gentle with me.'

撮影初日、監督に向かって『お手柔らかにお願いします』と軽く頭を下げた。

On the first day of shooting I politely bowed to the director and said, 'Please go easy on me.'