1.
clue; hint; lead
Information that helps solve a problem or find something.
事件解決の手掛かりを探す。
To search for clues to solve the case.
何か手掛かりになるものはありませんか。
Is there anything that could be a clue?
犯人の手掛かりは現場に残された指紋だけだった。
The only clue to the culprit was the fingerprints left at the scene.
2.
handhold; grip
Something to hold onto when climbing or moving.
岩の手掛かりをつかんで登る。
To climb by grabbing handholds on the rock.
崖に手掛かりがなくて、登れなかった。
There were no handholds on the cliff, so I couldn't climb it.
壁のわずかな手掛かりに指をかけて、少しずつ上に進んだ。
I put my fingers on the slight handholds on the wall and moved up little by little.
A compound of 手 (hand) + 掛かり (something to attach to). Has both abstract (clue) and concrete (handhold) senses.
SENSE 1 — CLUE:
- 手掛かりを見つける: to find a clue
- 手掛かりを得る: to obtain a lead
- 手掛かりがない: there is no clue
- 手掛かりをつかむ: to get a lead
SENSE 2 — HANDHOLD:
- 岩の手掛かり: a handhold on a rock
- 手掛かりをつかんで登る: to climb by gripping handholds
SIMILAR WORDS:
- ヒント: hint (loanword, more casual)
- 糸口: a starting point, a clue to unraveling something
- 足掛かり: foothold (physical or figurative)