expression, godan verb (-ru)
be beyond one's ability; be too much to handle; be unmanageable
Used when a task, problem, or situation exceeds one's skill, power, or capacity to control. Often implies that the thing is too difficult or overwhelming.
この問題は私の手に余る。
This problem is beyond my ability.
彼のわがままは手に余る。
His selfishness is too much to handle.
Similar meaning, but 手に負えない often emphasizes that something is uncontrollable or impossible to manage, while 手に余る focuses more on exceeding one's personal capacity or skill.
From 手 (hand, ability) + に + 余る (to exceed, be too much). Literally 'to exceed one's hands', meaning something is beyond one's power to handle.