Translation and Meaning of: 掛ける - kakeru

The Japanese word 掛ける[かける] is a versatile verb widely used in everyday life, with meanings ranging from "to hang" to "to apply" or "to call (on the phone)." If you are studying Japanese, understanding its various uses can be a significant step toward mastering the language. In this article, we will explore the meaning, origin, and contexts in which this word appears, as well as practical tips for memorizing it. Whether for daily conversations or for understanding more complex texts, 掛ける is one of those words that is worth getting to know in depth.

Meaning and uses of 掛ける

掛ける is a verb that can have various meanings depending on the context. One of the most common is "to hang," as in 壁に絵を掛ける (kabe ni e o kakeru), which means "to hang a picture on the wall." However, it can also mean "to apply" (薬を掛ける - kusuri o kakeru), "to phone" (電話を掛ける - denwa o kakeru), or even "to spend time" (時間を掛ける - jikan o kakeru).

This variety of meanings may seem confusing at first, but with practice, it becomes easier to identify which one fits each situation. A useful tip is to pay attention to the objects that accompany the verb. For example, when 掛ける is used with "電話" (denwa - telephone), the meaning will almost always be "to call". With "眼鏡" (megane - glasses), it takes on the sense of "to put on" or "to wear".

Origin and writing of kanji

The kanji 掛 is composed of the radical 扌(てへん - tehen), which is related to manual actions, and the part 卦 (ke), which originally referred to divination. Together, they suggest the idea of "suspending" or "applying something." This combination reflects well the multifaceted nature of the verb, which often involves placing something in a different place or state.

It is worth noting that 掛ける can also be written in hiragana (かける) when the intention is to simplify or when the kanji is too complex for the context. In children's or informal materials, this form is quite common. However, in formal or academic texts, the kanji is usually preferred.

Tips for memorizing and using 掛ける

An effective way to memorize 掛ける is to associate it with everyday situations. For example, think of actions like putting on glasses (眼鏡を掛ける) or calling someone (電話を掛ける). Creating simple sentences with these uses helps to cement the verb in memory. Another strategy is to observe its occurrence in animes, dramas, or songs, where it often appears frequently.

Furthermore, it is worth practicing the conjugation of 掛ける, as it follows the pattern of Class 2 (ichidan) verbs. For example, the negative form is 掛けない (kakenai), and the past form is 掛けた (kaketa). Training these variations in real contexts can make the learning process more natural and less mechanical.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 掛ける

• 掛ける - Affirmative form, present: 掛ける
• 掛ける - Negative form, present: 掛けない
• 掛ける - Affirmative form, past tense: 掛けた
• 掛ける - Negative form, past: 掛けなかった

Synonyms and similar words

• 掛ける (kakeru) - Suspend or hang something.

掛ける

Romaji: kakeru
Kana: かける
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n4, jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: 1. dress; to place; to hang; start to; to cover; multiply; turn on (a switch); play (a disk); pour (water); 2. sit down; 3. make a phone call.

Meaning in English: 1. to wear;to put on;to hang;to begin to;to cover;to multiply;to turn on (a switch);to play (a record);to pour (water); 2. to sit down; 3. to make a phone call

Definition: 1. To turn on or to fasten something.

Example Sentences - (掛ける) kakeru

See below some example sentences:

私は新しいプロジェクトを仕掛けるつもりです。

Watashi wa atarashii purojekuto o shikakeru tsumori desu

I intend to start a new project.

I'm going to set up a new project.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 新しい (atarashii) - adjective meaning "new"
• プロジェクト (purojekuto) - noun meaning "project"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "project"
• 仕掛ける (shikakeru) - verb meaning "to begin" or "to begin"
• つもり (tsumori) - expression that indicates the intention to do something
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the present tense and formality of the sentence

「日々心掛けることが大切です。」

Hibi kokorogakeru koto ga taisetsu desu

It is important to keep in mind every day.

• 日々 - means "every day" or "daily"
• 心掛ける - means "to keep in mind" or "to pay attention to"
• こと - means "thing" or "subject"
• 大切 - means "important" or "valuable"
• です - is a particle that indicates the polite form of the verb "to be"

私は眼鏡を掛ける必要があります。

Watashi wa megane wo kakeru hitsuyou ga arimasu

I need to wear glasses.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 眼鏡 (megane) - glasses
• を (wo) - direct object particle that indicates the object of the action, in this case "glasses"
• 掛ける (kakeru) - verb that means "to put on" or "to wear" in the context of glasses
• 必要 (hitsuyou) - adjective meaning "necessary" or "essential"
• が (ga) - subject particle indicating the subject of the action, in this case "I"
• あります (arimasu) - verb that means "to have" or "to exist" in the sense of possessing something

私は新しいプロジェクトを手掛ける予定です。

Watashi wa atarashii purojekuto o tegakeru yotei desu

I am planning to take on a new project.

I intend to work on a new project.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 新しい - adjective meaning "new"
• プロジェクト - noun meaning "project"
• を - direct object particle indicating the object of the action
• 手掛ける - verb that means "to deal with" or "to take on"
• 予定 - Noun that means "plan" or "schedule"
• です - verb to be in the present, which indicates the affirmation of the sentence

私は彼女に話し掛けた。

Watashi wa kanojo ni hanashikakeru ta

I talked with her.

I talked with her.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 彼女 (kanojo) - pronoun that means "she"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the target of the action, in this case "for her"
• 話し掛けた (hanashikaketa) - verb that means "to speak with," conjugated in the past

彼女は眼鏡を掛けている。

Kanojo wa megane o kakette iru

She is wearing glasses.

She wears glasses.

• 彼女 - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 眼鏡 - The word for "glasses" in Japanese is "眼鏡" (めがね, megane).
• を - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 掛けている - The present continuous form of the verb 掛ける (kakeru), which means "to use" or "to put on."

彼女を街で見掛けた。

Kanojo wo machi de mikakeru ta

I saw her on the street.

I saw her in town.

• 彼女 - Means "girlfriend" or "she" in Japanese.
• を - direct object particle in Japanese.
• 街 - means "street" or "city" in Japanese.
• で - location particle in Japanese.
• 見掛けた - means "sight" or "see" in Japanese, in the past tense.

心掛けは大切です。

Kokorogake wa taisetsu desu

Having a mindset is important.

Being careful is important.

• 心掛け - means "attitude" or "behavior" in Japanese.
• は - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 大切 - means "important" or "valuable" in Japanese.
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate an affirmation or a statement.

掛け算は算数の基本的な四則演算の一つです。

Kakezan wa sansū no kihonteki na shisoku enzan no hitotsu desu

Calculus is one of the four basic arithmetic operations of arithmetic.

• 掛け算 - multiplication
• は - Topic particle
• 算数 - arithmetic
• の - Possession particle
• 基本的 - basic
• な - adjectival suffix
• 四則演算 - basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division)
• の - Possession particle
• 一つ - I'm sorry, but I need the text you would like me to translate. Please provide the content for translation.
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

腰掛けてゆっくりと休む。

Koshikakete yukkuri to yasumu

Sit and rest slowly.

Sit down and rest slowly.

• 腰掛けて - sit down
• ゆっくりと - slowly
• 休む - rest