手て掛がかり

て

が

か

り

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

A piece of information or evidence that helps solve a problem, find something, or understand a situation. Common in detective work, research, and everyday problem-solving.

警けい察さつは事じ件けんの手てがかりを探さがしている。
The police are looking for clues to the case.
彼かれの言こと葉ばが問もん題だい解かい決けつの手てがかりになった。
His words became a clue to solving the problem.

noun

handhold; hold

A place to grip with the hand, such as on a rock face or a piece of furniture. Less common than the figurative 'clue' sense.

岩いわに手てがかりがなくて登のぼれなかった。
There were no handholds on the rock, so I couldn't climb it.

See all 51 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉の手てがかりをつかむto grasp/get hold of a clue to something
警けい察さつは事じ件けんの手てがかりをつかんだ。
The police got hold of a clue to the case.
〈事こと〉の手てがかりを得えるto obtain a clue to something
調ちょう査さを通つうじて重じゅう要ような手てがかりを得えた。
Through the investigation, we obtained an important clue.
〈事こと〉の手てがかりを探さがすto search for a clue to something
行方ゆくえ不ふ明めい者しゃの手てがかりを探さがしている。
They are searching for clues about the missing person.
〈事こと〉の手てがかりになるto serve as a clue to something
この写しゃ真しんが事じ件けんの手てがかりになるかもしれない。
This photo might serve as a clue to the case.

Kanji

手hand
掛hang, suspend, depend
懸state of suspension, hang, depend

Related words· 6

糸いと口ぐち sense 1
糸口 stresses the very starting thread of a solution, while 手がかり refers to any piece of evidence or clue found along the way.
ヒントN1sense 1
ヒント is a casual, everyday hint or tip, whereas 手がかり is used for more serious clues in investigations or research.
端たん緒しょ sense 1
端緒 is a formal, literary word for the first clue or beginning of an inquiry, while 手がかり is the more common everyday term for a clue.
鍵かぎN5
鍵 figuratively means the crucial key to solving something, while 手がかり is a more general clue or lead that may only partially help.

Show 2 more

キーワードN4
手がかり is a broader word for any clue or lead (not necessarily verbal), whereas キーワード specifically refers to a word or phrase that unlocks understanding.
心こころ当あたりN2
手がかり is a concrete clue or lead toward solving something, whereas 心当たり is a subjective sense of possibly knowing something.

Don't confuse with

足あし掛がかり sense 2
足がかり literally means a foothold (a place to step) and figuratively a foothold for progress, while 手がかり means a handhold or, more often, an informational clue.

Written forms

手て掛がかりUsage25%
Standard kanji spelling; frequent in news and formal writing.
手てがかりUsage71%
Common mixed kana-kanji spelling; widely used and easy to read.
手て掛がかりUsage3%
search-only kanji form
Search-only variant; not recommended for active use.
手て懸がかりUsage1%
search-only kanji form
Search-only variant; not recommended for active use.
手て懸がかりUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 懸 is uncommon in this word.

Etymology

Compound of 手 (hand) and 掛かり (a hold or catch), literally 'something for the hand to catch onto'. The figurative 'clue' sense developed from the idea of a physical grip that helps one proceed.