to start to ~ (and not finish)

Intermediate

20-25 min

common

Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Expresses starting but not completing an action.

[Verb ます-stem] + かける

食べかけのパンがテーブルにあります。

Tabekake no pan ga teeburu ni arimasu.

There is half-eaten bread on the table.

言いかけて、やめました。

Iikakete, yamemashita.

I started to say it, but stopped.

Implies incomplete action, often interrupted.

～てもいいです

may do ~, it's okay to do ~

～てはいけません

must not do ~, not allowed to do ~

～なければなりません

must do ~, have to do ~

～なくてもいいです

don't have to do ~, don't need to do ~

Common: 食べかけ, 読みかけ, 書きかけ.

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated: Jan 2

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