Indicates that an action has been started but is not yet completed, or that one is on the verge of doing something. It often carries the nuance of the action being interrupted or left in a 'half-done' state.
Verb [stem] + かけるPrimary
This means you started an action but did not finish it. Or, it means you are about to do something.
池に落ちた子供は死にかけていたが、幸い助かった。
The child who fell into the pond was on the verge of dying, but was fortunately saved.
机の上に読みかけの本が何冊か置いてある。
There are several books on the desk that I've started reading but haven't finished.
彼女は何か言いかけて、ふと口をつぐんだ。
She started to say something, then suddenly closed her mouth.
食べかけのケーキを冷蔵庫に戻しておいてね。
Put the half-eaten cake back in the fridge, okay?
お客様にメールを書きかけていた時に、停電になりました。
I was in the middle of writing an email to a client when the power went out.
This word makes you think of something halfway done. Imagine a book you started reading but put down. Or a pizza you began eating but stopped. It can also mean you were very close to something big. Like almost dying, but you didn't.
This is different from "~hajimeru." That means you started an action and kept doing it. This is also different from "~dasu." That means you started an action very suddenly. "~kakeru" means you started something but did not finish it. Or you were just about to start it.
Watch out: Don't use "~kakeru" just to say "start." It does not work for all verbs. Use "~hajimeru" for a general start. "~kakeru" is for when an action is not finished. Or when it is stopped halfway. For example, you cannot say "eiga o mikaketa" to mean "I started watching a movie." You should say "eiga o mihajimeta." "Mikakeru" can also mean "to happen to see." This is a different word, not this grammar rule.
Often confused with(1)
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