Structure
Verb［ます］+ かけだ
Verb［ます］+ かける
Verb［ます］+ かけの + Noun
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Standard
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一般
About かけ
Being an unofficial helper verb, かけ is what is known as a 造語 (neologism), and carries one specific meaning when used in conjunction with other words. This is similar to 向け. かけ comes from the verb 掛ける 'to suspend', and may be attached to the conjunctive form or other verbs, in order to convey that they are 'unfinished'. Usually this translates as 'half (A)', 'about to (A)', or 'not yet finished (A)'.
かけ behaves like a noun, so may be followed by the case marking particle の when attached directly to another noun, or by だ when at the end of a sentence.
With verbs that express a momentary action (something that cannot be 'half' done), かけ will convey that the action was 'on the verge of' happening.
かけ behaves like a noun, so may be followed by the case marking particle の when attached directly to another noun, or by だ when at the end of a sentence.
- 俺の食べかけだけど大丈夫？This is half-eaten by me, is that okay?
- これは私の飲みかけだ。This is my half-drunken one.
- 彼は死にかけの子犬を救った。He saved a puppy that was about to die. (Half dead)
- 彼女は壊れかけのパソコンを買って直すのが趣味だ。Her hobby is to buy half-broken computers and fix them. (Computers on the verge of breaking)
- やばい、死にかけるところだった。Wow, I was about to die right there. (Almost on the verge of dying)
- 飲みかけた水を捨てる。I will throw away my half drunk water.
Fun Fact
As the literal meaning of 掛ける is 'to suspend', it expresses that something is stuck somewhere in the process of happening. This is similar to taking a photo of someone that is jumping. In the photo it will look like they are 'suspended', but that is only because one particular moment has been captured, somewhere between the start and the finish. かけ conveys exactly the same meaning, and therefore may be interpreted differently, depending on the verb it is paired with.With verbs that express a momentary action (something that cannot be 'half' done), かけ will convey that the action was 'on the verge of' happening.
- 先週の事故で死にかけそうになった。I was on the verge of dying in an accident last week.
- 壊れかけていた椅子に座ったら、椅子が壊れた。When I sat on a chair that was on the verge of breaking, it broke.
- 終わりかけだからちょっと待って。I'm in the process of finishing, so can you wait a little.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Examples
今日の宿題はもう終わりかけです。
Today's homework is about to be finished. (Half-finished)
私は、何冊も読みかけの本がある。
I have a lot of books that are half-read.
食べかけのケーキでも良ければありますよ。
I have some half-eaten cake, if you would like.
描きかけの絵を早く完成させたい。
I want to finish this half-drawn picture quickly.
この時計壊れかけだけど、ないよりはいいか。
This watch is half-broken, but is still better than nothing.
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かけ – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (5 in total)
mrnoone
Hey @testing !
You have a good eye!Actually, 完成する is closer to intransitive verb by itself, meaning ‘to be completed’.
新作映画が完成した。
The new movie has been completed.In order to make it more transitive, we can use a kind of trick - using causative form.
In other words, using させる will make it transitive so you can use it like this:
絵を完成させる。
I will complete the paining.Using causative form this way also often adds strong nuance that it will be speaker/writer who will do the verb.
I hope it helps,
Cheers!PS
You can use this method with other verbs like 終わる、making it into transitive 終わらせる (instead of using 終える). This can be used to emphasize the nuance mentioned above, or to show eagerness to do soemthing.宿題を終わらせる
To finish homework.
testing
Ah, interesting - thanks! Is there any way to spot that it’s not the usual meaning of making/letting other people do it? I googled around a bit, and there were hardly any other examples besides 完成 for it. It feels a bit weird that it adds that nuance, considering that it’s usually about the opposite (making other people do things).
I guess I might just have to file it under “Japanese is weird sometimes” and slowly get the feeling for it while seeing it in the wild.
Fuga
Hey @testing !
The only way you can really spot that it is not the usual meaning of making other people do it is usually by looking at the context. For example, for sentences like, 描きかけの絵を早く完成させたい, you can assume that it is used with the nuance of ‘making myself do something’, because of the たい at the end of the sentence. Also, words like 終わらせる and 完成させる are often used when the speaker wants to make themselves finish/complete something, and not used when the speaker wants to make another person finish or complete something. So, yes, it is one of those ‘Japanese is weird sometimes’ kind of thing.
I hope that helps!
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