足掛(あしが)かり

あしがかり
noun
foothold; stepping stone, starting point
1. foothold, toehold
A place to put one's foot when climbing or a secure position from which to advance.
岩(いわ)の足掛(あしが)かりを探(さが)す。
To look for a foothold on the rock.
崖(がけ)を登(のぼ)るには足掛(あしが)かりが必要(ひつよう)だ。
You need footholds to climb the cliff.
2. stepping stone, starting point, springboard
Something that helps one make progress or achieve a goal figuratively.
この資格(しかく)を足掛(あしが)かりにキャリアアップを目指(めざ)す。
I aim to advance my career using this qualification as a stepping stone.
今回(こんかい)の成功(せいこう)を足掛(あしが)かりに、さらに飛躍(ひやく)したい。
I want to use this success as a springboard to achieve even more.
インターンシップは就職(しゅうしょく)への足掛(あしが)かりになる。
Internships serve as a stepping stone to employment.
海外(かいがい)進出(しんしゅつ)の足掛(あしが)かりとして、まず現地(げんち)法人(ほうじん)を設立(せつりつ)した。
As a foothold for overseas expansion, we first established a local subsidiary.

足掛(あしが)かり has a literal meaning (a physical foothold for climbing) and a figurative meaning (a stepping stone or springboard for advancement). The figurative use is much more common.

Writing

Also written 足(あし)がかり or 足懸(あしが)かり.

Common patterns

Related words

Related Words

Related: 手掛(てが)かり (clue; handhold)
Related: 足場(あしば) (scaffolding)
Related: 踏(ふ)み台(だい) (stepping stool)
general
Added 2026.2.4 21:08 · Revised 2026.10.6 3:59
09500/09984_ashigakari