Making a move
Idioms, Stage 2chunk 7 of 21Luck, trouble & outcomes
Moves and timing against the other side: acting, having no other option, getting in first or being beaten to it.
- te o utsutake action; settle for (a price or compromise)literally “strike a hand (a move in go; a clap that seals a deal)”
- hoka ni te ga naithere's no other wayliterally “there's no other hand (move)”
- sente o utsuact first, get in before the other sideliterally “play the first move (as in go)”
- saki o kosarerusomeone beats you to itliterally “have someone pass you to the front”
- hayai mono gachiwhoever gets there first winsliterally “the early one wins”
Mix-ups te o utsu (take action, settle for) vs sente o utsu (move first); saki o kosareru is the losing end of sente o utsu, and hayai mono gachi is the rule behind both.
te o utsu
polite te o uchimasu
“strike a hand (a move in go; a clap that seals a deal)”
take action; settle for (a price or compromise)
It has two uses: dealing with a problem (nanka te o utanai to, we have to do something), and agreeing on terms while haggling (kono hen de te o utou, let's call it a deal). Don't confuse it with te o dasu (hit, meddle).
Literal twin: te o utsu = clap one's hands (everyday clapping is te o tataku). Related: utsu te ga nai (nothing more can be done); formal: taisaku o toru.
hayaku nanka te o utanai to
We need to do something about it, fast.
早くなんか手を打たないと
hayaku nanika te o utanai to ikemasen ne
We need to take some action soon.
早く何か手を打たないといけませんね
Written 手を打つ · てをうつHeard 177× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside hoka ni te ga nai, sente o utsuMain list nanika (Stage 4)
hoka ni te ga nai
polite hoka ni te ga arimasen
“there's no other hand (move)”
there's no other way
Said when you're out of options and have to go with the one that's left: hoka ni te wa nai, kore shika te ga nai. The same te (move, option) appears in utsu te ga nai (nothing more can be done). It sounds a little dramatic; in casual talk people more often say kore shika nai.
Variants: kore shika te ga nai (this is the only way); utsu te ga nai (nothing more to try).
shouganai yo, hoka ni te ga nai n da kara
Can't be helped, there's no other way.
しょうがないよ、他に手がないんだから
shouganai desu yo, hoka ni te ga nai n desu kara
It can't be helped; there's no other option.
しょうがないですよ、他に手がないんですから
Written 他に手がない · ほかにてがないHeard 72× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside te o utsu, sente o utsuMain list hoka (Stage 3), aru (Stage 1), shouganai (Stage 4)
sente o utsu
polite sente o uchimasu
“play the first move (as in go)”
act first, get in before the other side
In English: beat someone to the punch
Said about heading off a problem or a rival before they move, like complaints, a competitor or a parent's objection. Mostly advice (sente o utte okou) or past (sente o utareta, they got in first). It shares te (a move) with te o utsu.
Opposite feeling: saki o kosareru (someone beat you to it).
monku iwareru mae ni sente utte okou.
Let's get in first, before they complain.
文句言われる前に先手打っておこう。
kujou ga kuru mae ni, sente o utte okimashou.
Let's act before any complaints come in.
苦情が来る前に、先手を打っておきましょう。
Written 先手を打つ · せんてをうつHeard 47× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside te o utsu, hoka ni te ga naiMain list -mae ni (Stage 4), -toku (Stage 1), -areru / -rareru (Stage 2)
saki o kosareru
polite saki o kosaremasu
“have someone pass you to the front”
someone beats you to it
In English: beat someone to it
The groan when someone else gets there first: the last item, a seat, a confession, a promotion, a rival company's launch. Mostly past and often without o: saki kosareta! For getting in first on purpose, say sente o utsu.
Rarer active form: saki o kosu (get there ahead of someone).
aa, saki kosareta!
Argh, someone beat me to it!
あー、先越された！
tasha ni saki o kosarete shimaimashita.
Another company beat us to it.
他社に先を越されてしまいました。
Written 先を越される · さきをこされるHeard 44× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesMain list -areru / -rareru (Stage 2), aa (Stage 2)
hayai mono gachi
polite hayai mono gachi desu
“the early one wins”
whoever gets there first wins
In English: first come, first served
Said about the last snack, good seats, sale items or a free spot: hayai mono gachi da yo! It's often a playful call to grab something before others do.
Casual: hayai mon gachi.
nokori wa hayai mono gachi da yo
The rest is first come, first served.
残りは早い者勝ちだよ
nokori wa hayai mono gachi desu yo
The rest is first come, first served.
残りは早い者勝ちですよ
Written 早い者勝ち · はやいものがちHeard 5× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesMain list hayai (Stage 3)