Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
To start doing something but not finish it, or to be on the verge of doing something.
🎯 Primary Function
Expresses that an action has started but is currently in progress or was interrupted before completion.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb [Stem] + かける / かけの + [Noun]
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Verb [Stem] + かけない / かけではない
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in reports or formal speech to describe incomplete tasks or processes.
Informal Situations
Very common in daily life for things like food, books, or chores.
Written Language
Common in literature to describe character actions or states.
Spoken Language
Used frequently to explain why something isn’t finished.
💡 Common Applications
Unfinished physical actions
Used for actions that were interrupted and remain incomplete.
Example: 読みかけの本 (A half-read book)
Verge of an event
Used for situations that almost happened or were just about to occur.
Example: 死にかける (To be on the verge of death)
Interrupted speech
Used when someone begins to speak but stops suddenly.
Example: 言いかける (Start to say)
Frequency
Common in both spoken and written Japanese.
Difficulty
N3 (Intermediate)
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
テーブルの上に読みかけの本がある。
Furigana: テーブルのうえに よみかけの ほんが ある。
Romaji: Teeburu no ue ni yomikake no hon ga aru.
English: There is a half-read book on the table.
Example #2
彼は何かを言いかけて、結局何も言わなかった。
Furigana: かれは なにかを いいかけて、けっきょく なにも いわなかった。
Romaji: Kare wa nanika o iikakete, kekkyoku nanimo iwanakatta.
English: He started to say something but ended up saying nothing.
Example #3
このリンゴは誰かの食べかけだ。
Furigana: このリンゴは だれかの たべかけだ。
Romaji: Kono ringo wa dareka no tabekake da.
English: This apple is half-eaten by someone.
Example #4
忘れかけていた記憶がふとよみがえった。
Furigana: わすれかけていた きおくが ふと よみがえった。
Romaji: Wasurekakete ita kioku ga futo yomigaetta.
English: Memories I had almost forgotten suddenly came back to me.
Example #5
彼は数年前に重い病気で死にかけた。
Furigana: かれは すうねんまえに おもいびょうきで しにかけた。
Romaji: Kare wa suunen mae ni omoi byouki de shinikaketa.
English: He was on the verge of death due to a serious illness a few years ago.
Example #6
机の引き出しに書きかけの手紙が入っている。
Furigana: つくえの ひきだしに かきかけの てがみが はいっている。
Romaji: Tsukue no hikidashi ni kakikake no tegami ga haitte iru.
English: There is an unfinished letter in the desk drawer.
Example #7
彼女は言いかけた言葉を飲み込んだ。
Furigana: かのじょは いいかけた ことばを のみこんだ。
Romaji: Kanojo wa iikaketa kotoba o nomikonda.
English: She swallowed the words she was about to say.
Example #8
作りかけのプラモデルを完成させる。
Furigana: つくりかけの プラモデルを かんせいさせる。
Romaji: Tsukurikake no puramoderu o kansei saseru.
English: I will finish the half-built plastic model.
Example #9
お風呂に入りかけた時に電話が鳴った。
Furigana: おふろに はいりかけた ときに でんわが なった。
Romaji: Ofuro ni hairikaketa toki ni denwa ga natta.
English: The phone rang just as I was about to get into the bath.
Example #10
彼は何かを思い出しそうになり、口をあけかけた。
Furigana: かれは なにかを おもいだしそうになり、くちを あけかけた。
Romaji: Kare wa nanika o omoidashisou ni nari, kuchi o akekaketa.
English: He seemed about to remember something and started to open his mouth.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
State change
It can also indicate a state that is beginning to change.
Example: 腐りかけている (Starting to rot)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using ‘kakeru’ when you just want to say ‘I started reading’.
✅ 読みはじめる (Read-start)
‘Kakeru’ implies the action is incomplete or interrupted, while ‘hajimeru’ simply focuses on the start point.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral; depends on the sentence ending (~masu vs dictionary form).
Social Situations: Useful for apologizing for unfinished work or explaining interruptions.
Regional Variations: None specifically reported.
🔍 Subtle Differences
かける vs はじめる
‘Hajimeru’ focuses on the beginning; ‘Kakeru’ focuses on the fact that it is not yet finished or was interrupted.
When to use: Use ‘kakeru’ for things you haven’t finished yet.
かける vs だす
‘Dasu’ implies a sudden or outward start; ‘Kakeru’ implies an incomplete process.
When to use: Use ‘dasu’ for sudden rain or sudden crying.
📝 Conjugation Notes
The verb stem is used. When describing a noun, use ‘かけの’ (e.g., 飲みかけのコーラ).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The accent is usually flat or follows the verb stem’s pitch pattern.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ‘kakeru’ as ‘hanging’ an action in the air—it hasn’t landed or finished yet.
Other Grammar
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