かけ (kake) — Half-Done, In The Middle Of

Meaning & Usage

The grammar point かけかけ (kake) conveys that an action or process is underway but not yet finished. It suggests a state of incompleteness, often because something was interrupted, or only a portion of the action has occurred. English equivalents include "half-done," "partially finished," "in the middle of doing," or "left unfinished." This sense of incompleteness is central to understanding かけかけ.

Think of the English phrase "half-eaten." This perfectly captures the essence of 食べかけたべかけ (tabe-kake). For example, a "half-eaten apple" is an apple someone started eating but didn't finish. Similarly, 読みかけよみかけ (yomi-kake) means a book that is "half-read" or "in the middle of reading." Here, the action of reading has begun, but it isn't complete. This grammar point frequently implies that the item or action is now in a state reflecting this partial completion.

かけかけ can also carry a slightly negative connotation, implying neglect or that something was left undone. For instance, a 壊こわしかけかけの部屋へや (kowashi-kake no heya) might describe a room in the process of demolition, or one that is half-destroyed, suggesting it's in disrepair. However, it isn’t always negative. 書きかけかきかけの手紙てがみ (kaki-kake no tegami), meaning "a letter in the middle of being written," is a neutral description.

Mentally, you can picture かけかけ as a snapshot taken mid-action. The action has a clear beginning and end, and かけかけ indicates you are somewhere between those points, but not yet at the end. It often pairs with tangible objects that are acted upon, but also with actions themselves, especially when they result in a visible or describable state.

Structure & Formation

Forming かけかけ is quite simple:

To use かけかけ, take the verb stem (the ます-form without ます) and attach かけかけ. For example:

• 読よみます (yomimasu) → 読よみ (yomi) + かけかけ = 読よみかけかけ
• 食たべます (tabemasu) → 食たべ (tabe) + かけかけ = 食たべかけかけ
• 書かきます (kakimasu) → 書かき (kaki) + かけかけ = 書かきかけかけ

かけかけ primarily functions as a suffix to verb stems, often forming a noun-like construction or directly modifying another noun. When modifying a noun, it typically appears as かけかけの + Noun.

• 食たべかけかけのリンゴ (tabe-kake no ringo) - A half-eaten apple
• 読よみかけかけの本ほん (yomi-kake no hon) - A half-read book
• 死しにかけかけの鳥とり (shini-kake no tori) - A bird on the verge of death

It's crucial to remember that かけかけ emphasizes the incomplete state of the action or the object being acted upon. It highlights that an action is not merely happening, but specifically unfinished.

Example Sentences

Half-Eaten / Half-Finished Objects

In The Middle Of An Action

On The Verge Of / Almost

Implied Interruption or Abandonment

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Confusing with ~途中とちゅう (tochū)

❌ 食たべる途中とちゅうのリンゴ (Taberu tochū no ringo)

✅ 食たべかけかけのリンゴ (Tabe-kake no ringo)

Both terms indicate an ongoing state. However, 〜途中とちゅう (tochū) simply means "in the middle of doing (something)" and focuses purely on the action itself. In contrast, かけかけ often implies the physical state of an object that has been partially acted upon, or an action that was interrupted. You would say 運転うんてんする途中とちゅう (unten suru tochū) for "in the middle of driving." However, for "a half-eaten bread," you would use 食たべかけかけのパン (tabe-kake no pan). かけかけ emphasizes incompleteness, sometimes suggesting abandonment or interruption, while 〜途中とちゅう merely states an action is currently in progress.

Mistake 2: Using with states that don't imply a clear end

❌ 好すきかけかけな人ひと (Suki-kake na hito)

✅ 好すきになり始はじめた人ひと (Suki ni nari hajimeta hito)

かけかけ is generally used with verbs that describe actions with a clear beginning and end, or a transformative process. It sounds less natural with static states or emotions that don't have a distinct "halfway point." While you can be "on the verge of falling in love" (恋こいをしかけかける), directly saying "half-liking" (好すきかけかけ) doesn't fit the nuance.

Mistake 3: Overuse in formal contexts

❌ 会議かいぎは終おわりかけかけです。(Kaigi wa owari-kake desu.)

✅ 会議かいぎはもうすぐ終おわります。(Kaigi wa mō sugu owarimasu.)

かけかけ tends to be more informal and descriptive of a physical state. In formal settings, or when simply stating something is nearing its end, expressions like もうすぐもうすぐ〜 (mōもう sugu~) or 〜終おわる頃ころ (owaru koro) are more appropriate. While not strictly incorrect, saying "the meeting is half-finished" sounds a bit casual compared to "the meeting will end soon."

Mistake 4: Not recognizing its noun-like function

❌ 彼かれは読よみかけかけた。(Kare wa yomi-kaketa.)

✅ 彼かれは読よみかけかけの本ほんを置おいた。(Kare wa yomi-kake no hon wo oita.)

かけかけ itself is often used as a noun or as part of a noun phrase (かけかけの + Noun). While you can use 読よみかけかけていた (yomi-kakete ita) to describe the continuous action of being in the middle of reading, just 読よみかけかけた sounds unnatural without a noun to modify or a predicate to complete the thought. It typically describes the state of an object or the status of an action as a noun.

Cultural Notes

In daily Japanese life, かけかけ is frequently encountered, highlighting a practical aspect of communication. It offers a convenient way to describe items in a state of partial consumption or use, which can prevent misunderstandings or indicate availability. For example, in a shared office, a 飲のみかけかけの缶かんジュース (nomi-kake no kan jūsu - half-drunk can of juice) implies it belongs to someone and should not be discarded. This reflects a common consideration for others' belongings.

This term also frequently implies an interruption. If a child leaves their 遊あそびかけかけのおもちゃ (asobi-kake no omocha - half-played-with toys) scattered, it suggests they might return to them, or that a parent might need to remind them to tidy up. This connects to the cultural emphasis on finishing what one starts, yet acknowledges that interruptions are part of life. The term itself is neutral, but context often colors its implications. For instance, a 書かきかけかけの原稿げんこう (kaki-kake no genkō - half-written manuscript) might evoke sympathy for the writer's struggle or anticipation for its completion.

Furthermore, かけかけ can subtly communicate a sense of urgency or precariousness, especially with verbs like 壊こわれる (kowareru - to break) or 死しぬ (shinu - to die). A 壊こわれかけかけの階段かいだん (koware-kake no kaidan - a staircase on the verge of breaking) immediately conveys danger. Similarly, 死しにかけかけの花はな (shini-kake no hana - a dying flower) evokes sadness and reflects the transient nature of life, a common theme in Japanese aesthetics.

JLPT Tips

For the N2 JLPT, grasping かけかけ's nuance of incompleteness and its function as a verb stem suffix is essential. Pay close attention to the context in which it appears. It often suggests an action was interrupted, left unfinished, or only partially completed, resulting in a specific state for an object or person.

When you encounter かけかけ in reading passages, try to visualize the incomplete state. Is it a 半はん分ぶん食たべられた物もの (hanbunはんぶん taberareta mono - half-eaten thing)? Or is someone in the middle of doing something important? The meaning can subtly shift depending on the verb it's attached to. For example, with transformative verbs like 壊こわれる (kowareru - to break), 壊こわれかけかけ (koware-kake) means "on the verge of breaking" or "half-broken." With verbs of consumption or creation, like 食たべる (taberu - to eat) or 書かく (kaku - to write), it clearly means "half-eaten" or "half-written."

Avoid confusing かけかけ with other continuous forms or verbs meaning "to start." The key differentiator is its emphasis on the unfinished nature of the action or the resulting state. Practice identifying this subtle but important difference, especially in comparison questions. Remembering the literal image of "half" will help in grasping its core meaning. Also, be mindful of its common usage in noun phrases like Verb Stem + かけかけの + Noun, a frequent pattern in test questions.