足掛かり・足がかり・足掛り|あしがかりashigakari[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. nounfoothold; footing; toehold; stepping stone
   何なんとか足あしがかりをつかんだ程度ていどですよ。↗

   We just got to first base.

• Synonym足場あしばNeutralA scaffold or standing place, also used figuratively for a foundation, as in 「足場を固める」; 「足がかり」 stresses the first step toward moving forward.
• Synonym端緒たんしょWrittenWritten/formal prose for the start or first thread of a matter, as in 「端緒を開く」; 「足がかり」 puts more weight on a foothold from which to push ahead.
• Synonym手がかりてがかりNeutralMostly a clue for getting at the truth, as in 「事件の手がかり」; originally a handhold for climbing. 「足がかり」 stresses a place to start from.
• Related糸口いとぐちNeutralA beginning or lead for untangling a problem, as in 「解決の糸口」; 「足がかり」 is a foothold for pushing something forward.
• RelatedきっかけNeutralThe trigger or cause that sets something off; the most common everyday choice. It is not a foothold for advancing something.
• Related鍵かぎNeutralFiguratively the key to solving or achieving something, as in 「成功の鍵」; it points to the crux, not to a foothold for starting out.
• RelatedヒントNeutralA loanword for a hint that gives someone an idea how to proceed; it is not a foothold for taking action.
• Related決め手きめてNeutralThe decisive factor in settling a contest or question, as in 「決め手に欠ける」; only loosely related to 「足がかり」 as a starting foothold.
• Related示唆しさWrittenWritten/formal prose for an indirect suggestion or hint, as in 「示唆に富む」; only loosely related to the foothold sense of 「足がかり」.
• RelatedキーポイントNeutralA loanword for the key point or crux of a matter; related to 「足がかり」 as a foothold for advancing things, but not interchangeable with it.
• Related手蔓てづるNeutralConnections or contacts you can rely on, as in 「手蔓を頼る」; 「足がかり」 is a foothold for getting things moving.

Use 「足がかり」 for a foothold for moving forward or entering a new field, as in 「海外進出の足がかり」. For a base or foundation say 「足場」, for a clue in an investigation 「手がかり」, for a lead toward solving a problem 「糸口」, and for a trigger 「きっかけ」. 「鍵」, 「決め手」 and 「示唆」 are only loosely related, and 「キーポイント」 cannot replace 「足がかり」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 高所こうしょへ上あがる時ときや足あしを踏み立ふみたてる時ときの足場あしば。
2. きっかけ。糸口いとぐち。