ichidan verb
be almost finished; be about to end
Used when something is in the final stage of ending or completion. Often implies the action is still ongoing but nearing its conclusion.
映画が終わりかけている。
The movie is almost over.
仕事が終わりかけたら電話してください。
Please call me when your work is nearly finished.
Standard kanji-kana spelling.
Variant using 掛ける; less common but still seen.
終わる means 'to end' or 'to finish', while 終わりかける specifically means 'to be almost finished' or 'to be about to end', emphasizing the approaching end.
Compound of 終わり (the continuative form of 終わる, 'to end') + かける (auxiliary verb meaning 'to be about to' or 'to start to').