suffix
taking (a quantity of time, people, etc.)
Attaches to a number or quantity noun to indicate the amount of time, people, or resources needed. Common in phrases like 3日掛かり (taking three days) or 人手掛かり (requiring many hands).
その仕事は3日掛かりで終わった。
The work took three days to finish.
このプロジェクトは人手掛かりだ。
This project requires a lot of manpower.
suffix
similar to ...; like ...
Attaches to a noun to mean 'in the manner of' or 'resembling'. Often used in set phrases such as 芝居掛かり (theatrical, dramatic) or 人掛かり (like a person).
彼の話し方は芝居掛かりだ。
His way of speaking is theatrical.
suffix
dependent on ...; reliant on ...
Attaches to a noun to indicate reliance or dependence. Seen in words like 親掛かり (dependent on one's parents) or 機械掛かり (reliant on machines).
彼はまだ親掛かりの生活をしている。
He is still living dependent on his parents.
suffix
while ...; when ...; in the midst of ...
Attaches to the -masu stem of a verb to indicate an action happening concurrently or in the middle of something. Often used in narrative or descriptive contexts.
彼は走り掛かりに振り返った。
He looked back while running.
通り掛かりの人に道を尋ねた。
I asked a passerby for directions.
掛かり is the suffix form derived from the verb 掛かる, which means 'to take (time/money)', 'to hang', etc. 掛かり is used as a suffix attached to nouns or verb stems, while 掛かる is a standalone verb.
Derived from the verb 掛かる (to take, to hang, to be involved). The suffix 掛かり extends the verb's sense of 'involving' or 'requiring' to form nouns and adverbial phrases.