Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 9: 9/22

掛(か)けHalf-, Not yet finished, About to, Begin to

Structure

Verb［stem］+ かけだ
Verb［stem］+ かける
Verb［stem］+ かけの + Noun

Details

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About かけ

Being an unofficial helper verb, かけ is what is known as a 造語(ぞうご) (neologism), and carries one specific meaning when used in conjunction with other words. This is similar to 向(む)け. かけ comes from the verb 掛(か)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.

Occasionally, the verb 掛(か)ける itself may be used instead of the noun form, かけ.

Fun Fact

As the literal meaning of 掛(か)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.

However, with verbs that are ongoing actions, かけ will simply imply that they are 'in the process' of being done.

Antonyms

Related

Examples

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    食(た)べ掛(か)けのケーキでも良(よ)ければありますよ。

    I have some half-eaten cake, if you would like.

    描(か)き掛(か)けの絵(え)を早(はや)く完成(かんせい)させたい。

    I want to finish this half-drawn picture quickly.

    この時計(とけい)壊(こわ)れ掛(か)けだけど、ないよりはいいか。

    This watch is half-broken, but is still better than nothing.

    忘(わす)れ掛(か)けていた思(おも)い出(で)が急(きゅう)に蘇(よみがえ)った。

    The half-forgotten memory suddenly came back.

    交通(こうつう)事故(じこ)で危(あや)うく死(し)に掛(か)けた。

    I nearly died in the car accident. (half-dead)

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