JLPT N2EverydayFixed words

がけにon the way; just as leaving

がけ goes on a few verbs of going and coming to say "on the way" or "just as I was leaving": 帰かえりがけに, 行いきがけに, 出でがけに. They are fixed words, and people don't make new ones.

私わたしは帰かえりがけに駅えき前まえの書しょ店てんに寄よって、新しん刊かんを買かった。

On my way home I stopped at the bookshop by the station and bought a new release.

出でがけに宅たく配はい便びんが来きて、私わたしは電でん車しゃに乗のり遅おくれた。

A delivery came just as I was leaving, and I missed my train.

How to form it

Verb ます-stem + がけに (a few verbs only)

Mostly 帰かえりがけに, 行いきがけに, 出でがけに and 通とおりがけに. Before a noun it is がけの: 出でがけの電でん話わ, a call just as you were leaving.

The words

帰かえりがけにon the way home; on your way out

帰かえりがけに、受うけ付つけへ鍵かぎを返かえしてください。

Please return the key to reception on your way out.

行いきがけにon the way there

私わたしは行いきがけにコンビニで水みずを買かった。

I bought some water at a convenience store on the way there.

出でがけにjust as you are leaving

私わたしは出でがけに財さい布ふがないことに気きづいた。

Just as I was leaving, I realized I didn't have my wallet.

通とおりがけにin passing

彼かれは通とおりがけに店みせの看かん板ばんを見み上あげた。

As he passed, he looked up at the shop's sign.

通とおりがかりにhappening to pass by

通とおりがかりに、新あたらしいパン屋やを見みつけた。

I happened to be passing and found a new bakery.

A relative, with がかり. 通とおりがかりの人ひと is a passer-by.

帰かえりがけに and 行いきがけに can be anywhere along the way. 出でがけに is the doorstep: you were just going out.

来きがけに, on the way here, is said too, though less. There is no 食たべがけに or 読よみがけに. And 命いのちがけ (at the risk of your life) and 三さん人にんがけ (seating three) are different words.

The plain way to say it

帰かえりがけにスーパーに寄よった。

I stopped at the supermarket on my way home.

The fixed word.

帰かえりにスーパーに寄よった。

I stopped at the supermarket on my way home.

The same, in the plainest words.

Both are everyday. The plain 帰かえりに, 行いきに and 出でかけるときに are heard more.

Close neighbours

途と中ちゅうでN2

The open one: any trip, and anything else with an end to reach, such as a meeting or a book.

帰き宅たくする途と中ちゅうで、電でん車しゃが止とまった。

The train stopped while I was on my way home.

かけ・かけるN3

Without the voicing, and on many verbs: started and not finished.

読よみかけの本ほんを机つくえの上うえに置おいた。

I put my half-read book on the desk.

ついでにN3

"While I'm at it", for any errand you fit in, not only on the way somewhere.

買かい物もののついでに、クリーニングを受うけ取とってくれる？

Could you pick up the dry cleaning while you're out shopping?

Check yourself

1Which one can be said?

Choose an answer to see why.

2What does this say?

出でがけに雨あめが降ふってきた。

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

私わたしは帰かえりがけの同どう僚りょうに、明日あしたの会かい議ぎの資し料りょうを渡わたした。

I handed the papers for tomorrow's meeting to a colleague who was on his way out.

出でがけの電でん話わで、私わたしたちの予よ定ていが変かわった。

A phone call just as we were leaving changed our plans.