Structure
Verb［ます］+ かけだ
Verb［ます］+ かける
Verb［ます］+ かけの + Noun
Details
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Standard
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.
Occasionally, the verb 掛ける itself may be used instead of the noun form, かけ.
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.
However, with verbs that are ongoing actions, かけ will simply imply that they are 'in the process' of being done.
- 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
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食べ掛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.
描き掛けの絵を早く完成させたい。
I want to finish this half-drawn picture quickly.
この時計壊れ掛けだけど、ないよりはいいか。
This watch is half-broken, but is still better than nothing.
忘れ掛けていた思い出が急に蘇った。
The half-forgotten memory suddenly came back.
交通事故で危うく死に掛けた。
I nearly died in the car accident. (half-dead)
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かけ – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (7 in total)
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!
electrosuccess
Hello, I’ve got a question about the sentence:
私は、何冊も読み掛けの本がある。(読む)
I have a lot of books that are half-read.
Wouldn’t 読み掛けた本 be correct here? It’s not accepted as a correct answer.
Fuga
Hey @electrosuccess !
Since your answer could work, we have added a hint for it!
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