かける means half-; not yet finished; in the middle of ~. It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to describe an action or state that is interrupted, unfinished, or halfway done.
This grammar point often appears in neutral Japanese. If you want to describe interrupted, unfinished, or partial actions, かける is a useful pattern to learn.
What does かける mean?
Use かける when you want to describe an action or state that is interrupted, unfinished, or halfway done.
Natural translations include:
- half-; not yet finished; in the middle of ~
- half-; not yet finished; in the middle of ~
- half-; not yet finished; in the middle of
How to form かける
Verb stem + かける / Noun + かける
Examples of the pattern:
- 食べかける
- 話しかける
- 忘れかける
When is かける used?
Use かける in situations like:
- describing interrupted actions
- half-finished meals
- incomplete tasks
Tone and register:
- neutral
- Common in describing interrupted actions, test questions, and written narratives
かける example sentences
- 食べかけのケーキを放置した。 \u2014 I left a half-eaten cake.
- 彼に話しかけたが、無視された。 \u2014 I started speaking to him, but he ignored me.
- 忘れかけていたことが思い出された。 \u2014 Something I had almost forgotten came back to me.
- 書きかけの手紙がある。 \u2014 There’s a letter I started writing but haven’t finished.
- 眠りかけた時に電話が鳴った。 \u2014 The phone rang when I was about to fall asleep.
Nuance of かける
The key nuance is always means something is partial or interrupted; never describes completion.
This matters because 〜かける captures in-between states. It is useful for describing things that were started but not finished, or actions that almost happened..
For example:
- In describing interrupted actions, it sounds natural and specific.
- Compared with 途中, it carries a different weight and implication.
かける vs 途中
Both かける and 途中 can express half-, but they are different.
かける:
- half-; attached to verbs to show interruption or partial completion
途中:
- means in the middle of; place or time, not attached to verbs
Quick contrast examples:
- 食事の途中に電話が来た。 \u2014 A call came in the middle of the meal.
- 食べかけた。 \u2014 I left it half-eaten.
Common mistakes with かける
Watch out for these mistakes:
- Using it for completed actions (use 〜た form instead)
- Confusing it with 〜始める (starting) which implies a new beginning
- Attaching it to nouns that don’t describe actions
Is かける on the JLPT?
Yes. かける is commonly taught as JLPT N3 grammar.
That means learners should be able to:
- recognize it in reading
- understand its nuance in context
- use it in simple original sentences
Practice questions for かける
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
- Say there’s a half-eaten sandwich on the table.
- Describe almost forgetting someone’s name.
- Say you started writing an email but didn’t finish.
Learn かける with Kanjiru
If you want to review かける together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N3 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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