かけ

The suffix かけ attaches to the verb stem (masu-stem) and expresses that an action is half-done, unfinished, about to happen, or just beginning. It comes from the verb かける, which in compound form means "to start doing something" or "to be partway through."

Forms

かけ can be used in several ways:

• V[stem] + かけの + Noun – modifies a noun ("half-～", "unfinished")
• V[stem] + かけだ – used as a predicate ("is half-done")
• V[stem] + かける – used as a verb ("to be about to ～", "to start to ～")

Unfinished / half-done

The most common usage describes something that was started but not completed. This is used with かけの to modify a noun.

This usage implies that the action was interrupted or abandoned partway through. It often carries a sense of something being left in an incomplete state.

About to happen / on the verge of

かける (verb form) can express that something is on the verge of happening or nearly happened. This is common with verbs describing significant changes or events.

This usage often conveys a sense of danger or urgency – something almost reached a critical point.

Just beginning

かける can also describe an action that has just started or is in its very early stages.

Common collocations

Some frequently seen combinations include: たべかけ食べかけ (half-eaten), よみかけ読みかけ (half-read), のみかけ飲みかけ (half-drunk), しにかけ死にかけ (near death), こわれ壊れかけ (on the verge of breaking).