The JLPT N3 grammar かける (kakeru) is a very useful expression to describe when you have started something but haven’t finished, or when you’re in the middle of something. The expression is mostly used to say:

• Halfway through..
• In the middle of..
• Not yet finished

Make Sure to Watch Coto Academy’s YouTube Video About 〜かける

Before you continue reading, why not take a moment to watch a quick YouTube lesson with our Japanese teacher, Nami Sensei:

〜かける Meaning

〜かける (~kakeru) expresses an action that has been started but is not yet finished, or something that is in the middle of completion. You can use this phrase to describe how you are halfway through something or whenever you’re not done with something.

〜かける most closely translates to:

• Half-done
• About to
• In the middle of

JLPT N3 〜かける (~Kakeru) Sentence Structure

〜かける(~kakeru) attaches to the end of verb stems (dropping ます). You can only use it with verbs that express a direct action (i.e., reading a book, watching a movie, making food).

Type	Structure
Verb (ます form)	Verb (drop ます) + かける

You can only attach a verb stem in plain form, without conjugating, to かける. You conjugate かける itself into positive, negative, past, and present:

Form	Plain Form + かける	Meaning
Present	読みかける	In the middle of reading
Past	読みかけた	Was in the middle of reading
Negative	読みかけない	Does not start reading/does not leave it half done
Past Negative	読みかけなかった	Did not start reading

JLPT N3 〜かける (~Kakeru) Examples

Let’s take a look at a few example sentences to really get a feel of how to use 〜かける (~kakeru).

Example 1:
家を出かけたとき、雨が降り出した。
Ie o dekaketa toki, ame ga ori dashita.
Just as I was about to leave the house, it started raining.

Example 2:
読みかけの本が机の上にある。
Yomi kake no hon ga tsukue no ue ni aru.
There’s a book on the desk that I started reading but didn’t finish.

Example 3:
言いかけて、言葉を止めた。
Ii kakete, kotoba o tometa.
I started to say something, then stopped.

Example 4:
コーヒーを飲みかけのまま、出かけてしまった。
Koofii o nomi kakeno mama dekakete shimatta.
I left without finishing my coffee.

Vocabulary List

Check out all the new words in the example sentences above, and try to remember new vocabulary alongside today’s Japanese grammar!

Kanji / Writing	Furigana	Romaji	English
家	いえ	ie	house
出かける	でかける	dekakeru	to go out
雨	あめ	ame	rain
降り出す	ふりだす	furidasu	to start falling
読む	よむ	yomu	to read
本	ほん	hon	book
机	つくえ	tsukue	desk
言う	いう	iu	to say
言葉	ことば	kotoba	words
止める	とめる	tomeru	to stop
飲む	のむ	nomu	to drink
出かける	でかける	dekakeru	to go out

Learn More JLPT Grammar with Coto Academy!

Try using the expression, 〜かける (~kakeru), as much as you can when speaking Japanese! The more you use it, the more it’ll stick and just become a natural way you express yourself. If you want to practice using this JLPT phrase and many more in real Japanese conversations, nothing beats practicing with a teacher who can offer practical guidance. Sign up with us at Coto Academy.

Coto Academy has been teaching Japanese for over 25 years, with campuses in Shibuya, Yokohama, Iidabashi, Minato, and online. Our courses focus on practical Japanese, so the grammar you learn is designed for real-life use.

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FAQ:

What does 〜かける (~kakeru) mean?

It indicates that an action is not completed, either because it was interrupted or was just about to happen.

Is 〜かける (~kakeru) used for the future or the past?

The expression can be used for both, describing something about to happen or something already started, but is unfinished.

Can 〜かける be used with all verbs?

Generally, かけ(kakeru) can only be used with intentional, controllable actions, not for indirect actions you have no control over.