かけ・
かける presents an action as started but not completed. With certain verbs, it can instead show that an event came close to happening or was just beginning to happen.
Two related readings
The first reading is “started but unfinished”: someone begins an action and stops before reaching its endpoint. The second is “on the verge of happening”: an event begins to develop or comes close to fully occurring. The verb and context determine which reading is natural.
Started but unfinished
An interruption or a later reference to the unfinished object often makes this reading especially clear.
レポートを書きかけたところで、停電になった。
I had just started writing the report when the power went out.
AnalyzeThe report was begun, but the power failure interrupted the work.
彼は何か言いかけたが、急に黙った。
He started to say something but suddenly fell silent.
Analyze読みかけの本を机の上に置いた。
I put the book I had started reading on the desk.
Analyze読みかけの directly modifies the unfinished item.
このメールはまだ書きかけだ。
This email is still only partly written.
AnalyzeOn the verge of happening
This reading is common with events such as falling, collapsing, going out, or dying, where there is a recognizable movement toward a result.
Beginning versus remaining incomplete
始める simply says that an action begins. かける keeps attention on the action being only partly underway, interrupted, or at the brink of occurring. By contrast, 終わる marks the endpoint that the action has not reached. For saying that a whole event almost happened, the pattern ending in ところだった is often more broadly available, while this suffix depends more strongly on the particular verb.
More examples
食べかけのパンを冷蔵庫に入れた。
I put the partly eaten bread in the refrigerator.
Analyzeこの申請書はまだ書きかけです。
This application form is still only partly filled out.
Analyze彼女は答えかけて、考え直した。
She started to answer, then reconsidered.
Analyze会議中に眠りかけたが、名前を呼ばれて目が覚めた。
I was about to fall asleep during the meeting, but I woke up when my name was called.
Analyzeドアが閉まりかけたので、急いで手を伸ばした。
The door was starting to close, so I quickly reached out.
Analyze強風で古い塀が倒れかけている。
The old wall is on the verge of falling over in the strong wind.
Analyze