The Meaning of kake [掛け] In Japanese

掛け
かけ
Romaji: kake N5

What does 掛け mean?

Translation and Meaning

hang, hanging, covering, call, multiplication

Definition

掛け denotes the noun form of 掛ける, capturing the general notion of applying or placing something over another, and functions as the stem in many compound terms.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • hang; to suspend or attach
  • a layer or covering added on top (as in 掛け布団)
  • a call or shout in a performance or contest (掛け声)
  • multiplication in mathematical terms when used in 掛け算

Etymology

From the verb 掛ける with the noun-forming ending け to denote the action or state; the reading kake is the stem used before る in 掛ける.

Composition

  • 掛 means to hang, suspend, or attach; け is the noun-forming suffix turning the verb 掛ける into the noun 掛け, indicating the action or state of hanging or placing over something

Usage

Used as a noun or in compounds to describe how something is hung, placed, or layered, including bedding (掛け布団), art displays (掛け軸), and fixed phrases such as 掛け声; formal writing may treat 掛け as the root in technical terms.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a hand hanging a coat on a hook; the hand radical in 掛 emphasizes the action of placing or suspending, helping recall that it relates to hanging or putting on

Variations

  • 掛ける to hang; kakeru
  • 掛け声 kakegoe — a call or shout
  • 掛け布団 kakefuton — a duvet
  • 掛け算 kakezan — multiplication

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.
  • 朝、母に電話を掛けて、忘れ物を伝えた。
    Asa, haha ni denwa o kakete, wasuremono o tsutaeta.
    This morning I called my mother to tell her about the thing I forgot.
    Lista:
    • 朝 (asa) – morning
    • 母に (haha ni) – to my mother
    • 電話を (denwa o) – phone call
    • 掛けて (kakete) – dialing
    • 忘れ物を (wasuremono o) – the forgotten item
    • 伝えた (tsutaeta) – told
    É a forma te de 「掛ける」, conectando ações; neste caso, 電話を掛ける significa ‘to make a phone call’.
掛け