The Meaning of yobikakeru [呼び掛ける] In Japanese

呼び掛ける
よびかける
Romaji: yobikakeru N3

What does 呼び掛ける mean?

Translation and Meaning

to call out to, to address, to appeal (to)

Definition

呼び掛ける means to call out to someone or to address an audience; it also means to make a public appeal or to solicit a response.

Type

Verb (ichidan)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • call out to attract someone’s attention explicitly
  • address or speak to a group, inviting participation or response
  • make a public appeal or call for action
  • invoke attention or support in a campaign or situation

Etymology

呼 call + び stem-form; 掛ける to hang or attach; combined, they form the sense of placing a call toward someone.

Composition

  • 呼: call; び: stem-form linking to 掛ける
  • 掛ける: to hang or attach; together they form the sense of applying a call toward someone

Usage

Used to address a person or audience directly or to invite a response; appropriate in both formal and informal contexts; commonly found in public announcements, speeches, campaigns, and organizational communications; the target can be a person, a group, or society at large; follows particles such as に or を depending on the object.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture a speaker shouting 呼 while attaching a visible掛ける hook to the audience, turning a simple call into an active invitation.

Variations

  • 促す (unagasu) — to urge
  • 呼ぶ (yobu) — to call
  • 勧誘する (kan’yuu suru) — to solicit/invite

Example Phrases

  • 駅前で 迷子の子どもを 見つけたら 大声で 呼び掛ける。
    Ekimae de maigo no kodomo o mitsuketara oogoe de yobikakeru.
    If you find a lost child in front of the station, call out loudly.
    Lista:
    • 駅前で (ekimae de) – in front of the station
    • 迷子の子どもを (maigo no kodomo o) – a lost child
    • 見つけたら (mitsuketara) – if you find
    • 大声で (oogoe de) – loudly
    • 呼び掛ける (yobikakeru) – to call out
    Here, 「呼び掛ける」 means to call out to attract attention or ask for help, with the object marked by を. The sentence also uses 〜たら to express a conditional: when you find the child, you should call out loudly.
呼び掛ける