手掛(てが)かり

てがかり
noun
clue; hint; lead; handhold
cognition
1. clue; hint; lead
Information that helps solve a problem or find something.
事件(じけん)解決(かいけつ)の手掛(てが)かりを探(さが)す。
To search for clues to solve the case.
何(なに)か手掛(てが)かりになるものはありませんか。
Is there anything that could be a clue?
犯人(はんにん)の手掛(てが)かりは現場(げんば)に残(のこ)された指紋(しもん)だけだった。
The only clue to the culprit was the fingerprints left at the scene.
2. handhold; grip
Something to hold onto when climbing or moving.
岩(いわ)の手掛(てが)かりをつかんで登(のぼ)る。
To climb by grabbing handholds on the rock.
崖(がけ)に手掛(てが)かりがなくて、登(のぼ)れなかった。
There were no handholds on the cliff, so I couldn't climb it.
壁(かべ)のわずかな手掛(てが)かりに指(ゆび)をかけて、少(すこ)しずつ上(うえ)に進(すす)んだ。
I put my fingers on the slight handholds on the wall and moved up little by little.

A compound of 手(て) (hand) + 掛(か)かり (something to attach to). Has both abstract (clue) and concrete (handhold) senses.

SENSE 1 — CLUE:

SENSE 2 — HANDHOLD:

Similar words

Related Words

Synonym: 糸口(いとぐち) (clue, starting point)
Synonym: ヒント (hint (casual loanword))
Related: 足掛(あしが)かり (foothold)
general
Added 2026.1.18 18:27 · Revised 2026.8.11 15:33
06500/06871_tegakari