te ga kayui toki ha, kuriimu wo sukosi dasite tukemasu.

In Japanese, words for body parts often take が with adjectives that describe a physical condition.

So 手がかゆい literally means the hand is itchy.

Why not を?

• を usually marks the direct object of an action verb.
• But かゆい is an i-adjective, not an action verb, so 手 is not an object here.

Why not は?

• 手はかゆい is possible, but it gives more contrast or emphasis, like as for my hand, it’s itchy.
• In a neutral statement about a condition, が is very common.

This pattern is also common with other body conditions:

• 頭が痛い = My head hurts.
• 目がかゆい = My eyes are itchy.

かゆい is an i-adjective meaning itchy.

It is commonly used with a body part:

• 手がかゆい = My hand is itchy.
• 足がかゆい = My leg/foot is itchy.

A useful point for English speakers: Japanese often states the body part directly instead of saying I am itchy on my hand. So 手がかゆい is the natural way to express that idea.

Before とき meaning when, you usually use the plain form of the word or clause.

So:

• 手がかゆいとき = when your hand is itchy

Not:

• 手がかゆいですとき ✘

This is because です generally does not go directly before nouns like とき in this structure.

A few patterns:

• Verb plain form + とき
  行くとき = when going / when you go
• い-adjective
  • とき
    暑いとき = when it’s hot
• な-adjective
  • なとき
    ひまなとき = when free
• Noun + のとき
  子どものとき = when I was a child

The は marks the time/condition as the topic.

So 手がかゆいときは、... means something like:

• When your hand is itchy, ...
• As for when your hand is itchy, ...

It sets up a situation and then tells you what is done in that situation.

Without は, 手がかゆいとき、クリームを少し出してつけます is still possible and natural. Adding は gives a little more of a topic/conditional feeling, as if introducing a general instruction or habitual action.

出して is the て-form of 出す.

出す has many meanings, but here it means to take out / squeeze out / dispense.

With cream, クリームを少し出す means:

• take out a little cream
• squeeze out a little cream

The て-form connects actions in sequence:

• クリームを少し出してつけます
• Take out a little cream and apply it

So the order is:

1. squeeze out some cream
2. put/apply it on

Here, つけます means to apply or to put on.

It is often used for things that are attached to a surface or body:

• 薬をつける = apply medicine
• クリームをつける = apply cream
• 口紅をつける = put on lipstick

A subtle point: つける is a very broad verb in Japanese and can mean many things in other contexts, such as turn on, attach, or keep a record. But with cream or medicine, it means apply.

The object is understood from context.

In クリームを少し出してつけます, the cream mentioned earlier is naturally the thing being applied. Japanese often omits words that are obvious.

So this is essentially:

• クリームを少し出して、(そのクリームを)つけます。
• Take out a little cream and apply (it).

English usually repeats the object more often, but Japanese often leaves it out when it is clear.

少し means a little.

In this sentence, it most naturally modifies 出して through the object phrase:

• クリームを少し出して
• take out a little cream

So it tells you the amount of cream to dispense.

It does not primarily mean apply it a little. The main idea is that the amount of cream taken out is small.

Japanese ます form is not only for actions happening right now. It is also used for:

• habits
• general statements
• instructions stated politely
• repeated actions

So つけます here can mean:

• I apply cream
• You apply cream
• One applies cream
• Apply cream (in an instructional sense)

Because the sentence sounds like a general everyday guideline, the polite ます form works very naturally.

Japanese often leaves the subject unstated when it is clear from context.

So 手がかゆいときは、クリームを少し出してつけます could mean:

• When my hand is itchy, I apply a little cream.
• When your hand is itchy, apply a little cream.
• When your hands get itchy, you put on a little cream.

The exact interpretation depends on context:

• In a self-description, it may mean I do this.
• In a lesson or instruction manual, it may mean you should do this.
• In a general explanation, it may mean this is what one does.

Yes. Japanese nouns usually do not mark singular vs. plural clearly.

So 手 can mean:

• hand
• hands

The sentence does not force a distinction. Context decides.

If needed, Japanese can be more specific:

• 右手 = right hand
• 左手 = left hand
• 両手 = both hands

But in this sentence, simple 手 is completely natural.

It is literally a time expression meaning when, but in many sentences it feels close to if/whenever.

So:

• 手がかゆいときは、... = when your hand is itchy, ...
• Depending on context, it may also feel like if your hand gets itchy, ...

This is common in Japanese. A when phrase can function like a condition, especially in practical instructions.

Yes. 塗ります is also possible and means to spread/apply by smearing.

Difference:

• つけます = a general apply/put on
• 塗ります = more specifically spread on / smear on

So:

• クリームをつけます = apply cream
• クリームを塗ります = spread cream on

In everyday Japanese, つける sounds very natural for cream, medicine, lotion, and similar things. 塗る can sound slightly more focused on the physical act of spreading it over the skin.