Explore two everyday uses of かける in polite Japanese.
The idea
かける is an ichidan verb: remove る to form かけます, かけません, かけました and かけて. Use object を place に かける to hang something, and person or place に 電話をかける to call.
| Dictionary form | Polite non-past | Polite negative | Polite past | て form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| かける | かけます | かけません | かけました | かけて |
Examples
- 壁に絵をかけます。I hang a picture on the wall.
- フックにコートをかけました。I hung my coat on the hook.
- ドアにタオルをかけてください。Please hang the towel on the door.
- 今晩、友達に電話をかけます。I will call my friend tonight.
- 昨日、病院に電話をかけました。I called the hospital yesterday.
- 朝は母に電話をかけません。I do not call my mother in the morning.
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Watch out
The meaning depends on the object: 電話をかける means to make a call, not to hang a phone. に marks the call’s recipient or the surface where something is hung.
Try it yourself
＿。（かける→ます）
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かけます
かけます is the polite non-past form; remove る and add ます.
＿。（かける→て）
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かけて
かけて is the て form of this ichidan verb: remove る and add て.
友達＿電話をかけます。（に／を）
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に
に marks the friend as the recipient of the call.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
＿。（かける→ます）
＿。（かける→て）
友達＿電話をかけます。（に／を）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe hanging something and calling someone; change both sentences to the polite past.