JLPT · Level 26
75 words
Japanese word
手がかり
Pronunciation
Romajitegakari
Meaning
- nounclue
Example
この手がかりで、答えが分かりました。ko no te ga ka ri de kota e ga wa ka ri ma shi ta
The answer became clear from this clue.
More examples
先生が手がかりを見つけました。sen sei ga te ga ka ri o mi tsu ke ma shi ta
The teacher found a clue.
本の最後の一文が、謎を解く手がかりになりました。hon no sai go no ichi bun ga nazo o to ku te ga ka ri ni na ri ma shi ta
The last sentence in the book became a clue to solving the mystery.
Core concept
It provides a concrete point from which a person can infer something not yet known.
Common phrases
手がかりを得るte ga ka ri o u ru
get a clue
手がかりを探すte ga ka ri o saga su
look for a clue
手がかりを見つけるte ga ka ri o mi tsu ke ru
find a clue
Similar words
ヒントhinto: A small piece of information that helps reveal an answer.
糸口itoguchi: A point from which a difficult problem or investigation can begin.
端緒tansho: An initial sign or fact that opens the way for further investigation.
Definition in Japanese
物事を解決したり真相を推測したりするための情報や証拠。mono goto o kai ketsu shi ta ri shin sō o sui soku shi ta ri su ru ta me no jō hō ya shō ko
Word origin
The word 手がかり (tegakari) comes from the native elements 手 (te, "hand") and 掛かり (kakari, "a hold"), with the idea of grasping a point extending to finding a clue.
Usage tips
- In detective stories, 手がかり (tegakari) can be a physical object or a piece of information that moves the investigation forward.
Other meanings
- keynoun
- leadnoun