| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| 手掛かり | てがかり | I〔手をかける所〕a handhold II〔糸口〕a clue, a lead |
| I〔手をかける所〕a handhold 手懸かりのない絶壁 a steep cliff 「with nothing to hang on to [with no handholds] II〔糸口〕a clue, a lead 彼の行方に関する唯一の手掛かりは手紙の消印だった The only clue [lead] to his whereabouts was the postmark on his letter. この難問解明の手掛かりは何もない We have no key to the solution of this difficult problem. 泥棒は手掛かりとなるものは何も残していない The robber has left no clues to his identity at all. |