かける
🃏 Flashcard
かける
kakeru
Tap to reveal usage
half-; not yet finished; in the middle of~
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
kakeru
Post ID
50848
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
half-; not yet finished; in the middle of~
📖 How to use it
かける describes an action that is half-finished or in the middle of being done.
Attaches to
Attach to the ます-stem of a verb (e.g., 食べ(ます) → 食べかける).
かける is used to express that an action has started but not yet been completed. It often conveys a sense of interruption or that something is left unfinished. For example, if you start eating but get called away, you might say 食べかけた. This pattern is common in everyday speech, especially with verbs like 食べる, 書く, 読む, and 言う.
食べかけのケーキがテーブルにある。
Tabekake no keeki ga teeburu ni aru.
There's a half-eaten cake on the table.
読みかけの本を忘れてしまった。
Yomikake no hon o wasurete shimatta.
I forgot the book I was in the middle of reading.
言いかけてやめた。
Iikakete yameta.
I started to say something but stopped.
Not かけ vs. 途中 (とちゅう)
かけ focuses on the action being started but not finished, often used with verbs. 途中 is a noun meaning 'in the middle' and is used with の or で (e.g., 途中で止める). You can say 途中の本 but not 途中のケーキ for half-eaten; 食べかけ is more natural for food.
Register
Spoken and written, neutral; common in daily conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
かける
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat かける three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using かける. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern かける mean?
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Half-; not yet finished; in the middle of~
What JLPT level is かける?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use かける in a sentence?
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Attach かける (kakeru) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is かける formal or casual Japanese?
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かける is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember かける long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.