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Kakaru vs Kakeru

The Japanese verbs "kakaru" (掛かる, かかる) and "kakeru" (掛ける, かける) are often confused due to their similar pronunciation and kanji. However, they have distinct meanings and usages. Here's a detailed breakdown of each verb:

Kakaru (掛かる, かかる)

Meaning: "Kakaru" is an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take a direct object. It generally means "to take" in terms of time or resources, "to hang," "to be caught," or "to be applied."

Common Usages: 1. Time or Resources: - どのくらい時間が掛かりますか？ (Dono kurai jikan ga kakarimasu ka?) – How much time will it take? - その仕事にはお金が掛かる。 (Sono shigoto ni wa okane ga kakaru.) – That job will cost money.

  1. Hanging or Suspended:

  2. かばんが壁に掛かっている。 (Kaban ga kabe ni kakatte iru.) – The bag is hanging on the wall.

  3. Being Caught or Stuck:

  4. 魚が釣り針に掛かった。 (Sakana ga tsuribari ni kakatta.) – The fish got caught on the hook.

  5. Being Applied:

  6. 塩が掛かっている。 (Shio ga kakatte iru.) – Salt is sprinkled (applied).

Kakeru (掛ける, かける)

Meaning: "Kakeru" is a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object. It has several meanings, including "to hang something," "to spend (time/money)," "to make a call," "to wear (glasses)," and "to multiply."

Common Usages: 1. To Hang or Suspend Something: - 絵を壁に掛ける。 (E o kabe ni kakeru.) – To hang a picture on the wall.

  1. To Spend (Time/Money):
  2. 時間を掛ける。 (Jikan o kakeru.) – To spend time.

  3. お金を掛ける。 (Okane o kakeru.) – To spend money.

  4. To Make a Call:

  5. 電話を掛ける。 (Denwa o kakeru.) – To make a phone call.

  6. To Wear (Glasses):

  7. メガネを掛ける。 (Megane o kakeru.) – To wear glasses.

  8. To Multiply:

  9. 二に三を掛けると六になる。 (Ni ni san o kakeru to roku ni naru.) – Two multiplied by three is six.

  10. To Start or Set in Motion:

  11. エンジンを掛ける。 (Enjin o kakeru.) – To start the engine.

Summary

  • Kakaru (掛かる): Intransitive verb, meaning "to take (time/resources)," "to hang," "to be caught," or "to be applied."
  • Kakeru (掛ける): Transitive verb, meaning "to hang something," "to spend (time/money)," "to make a call," "to wear (glasses)," "to multiply," or "to start/set in motion."

Understanding the context in which each verb is used will help distinguish between them and use them correctly in sentences.