A button operation processing method for a terminal device in a single-hand mode and the terminal device are provided. The method includes: detecting whether a terminal device is switched to the single-hand mode; detecting whether a first preset operation on a proximal physical button is received when the terminal device is switched to the single-hand mode, the proximal physical button being a physical button within a single-hand operation area on the terminal device; and performing an operation function corresponding to a distal physical button when the first preset operation on the proximal physical button is received, the distal physical button being a physical button outside the single-hand operation area on the terminal device.