Recognise 掛 in complete Japanese words. These examples show hanging, calling and taking time in context.

The idea

掛 has 11 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Compare 掛ける（かける） with 掛かる（かかる）: learn readings with whole words. N3 is an editorial estimate, not an official JLPT kanji list.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
掛けるかけるI hang a picture on the wall.
掛かるかかるA clock is hanging on the wall.
電話を掛けるでんわをかけるI call my mother.
掛かりますかかりますIt takes thirty minutes to get to school.

Examples

  • 壁かべに絵えを掛かけます。I hang a picture on the wall.
  • 壁かべに時計とけいが掛かかっています。A clock is hanging on the wall.
  • 母ははに電話でんわを掛かけます。I call my mother.
  • 椅子いすに上着うわぎを掛かけます。I hang my jacket over the chair.
  • 学校がっこうまで三十分さんじゅっぷん掛かかります。It takes thirty minutes to get to school.
  • 帽子ぼうしをフックに掛かけてください。Please hang the hat on the hook.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

掛ける（かける） is transitive: someone hangs something. 掛かる（かかる） is intransitive: something hangs or takes time. 電話を掛ける means to make a phone call. Compare 掛 with 持: a shared component does not make them interchangeable.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 掛ける in hiragana.

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    かける

    掛ける is read かける. In context: I hang a picture on the wall.

  2. Write the reading of 掛かる in hiragana.

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    かかる

    掛かる is read かかる. In context: A clock is hanging on the wall.

  3. Write this lesson’s kanji in the blank: ＿ける（かける）.

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    掛

    掛 completes 掛ける, read かける. In context: I hang a picture on the wall.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 掛 from memory, and read 掛ける and 掛かる aloud. Then check the examples and make a sentence of your own.