～かける・～かけ
An action has started but is not finished
You’ll be able to describe something left halfway through or only partly completed.
机の上に、読みかけの本が置いてあります。
tsukue no ue ni, yomikake no hon ga oite arimasu.
What do you think this sentence means?
There is a half-read book left on the desk.
Started but not finished
～かける means that an action has begun but is not complete. ～かけの modifies a noun that is left partway through that action. It often suggests interruption or incompleteness.
飲みかけのジュースを捨てないでください。
nomikake no juusu o sutenaide kudasai.
Please do not throw away my half-finished juice.
言いかけて、やめました。
iikakete, yamemashita.
I started to say something, then stopped.
Attach it to the verb stem
Use the ます-stem + かける for an action that is in progress or started but unfinished. Use ～かけの + noun to describe the unfinished thing.
書きかけのメールを保存しました。
kakikake no meeru o hozon shimashita.
I saved an email that I had started writing.
使いかけのシャンプーがあるから、新しいのはまだ開けないで。
tsukaikake no shanpuu ga aru kara, atarashii no wa mada akenaide.
There’s a half-used bottle of shampoo, so don’t open the new one yet.
眠りかけたとき、電話の音で起こされた。
nemurikaketa toki, denwa no oto de okosareta.
Just as I was starting to fall asleep, I was woken by the phone.
やりかけの仕事があるので、今日は残業します。
yarikake no shigoto ga aru node, kyou wa zangyou shimasu.
I have unfinished work, so I’m working overtime today.
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