掛ける

• Reading: かける
• Romaji: kakeru
• Kanji breakdown: 掛 (ka/kake) — to hang, to suspend, to apply
• Pronunciation: /ka.ke.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To hang up; to suspend; to put on (glasses); to make (a phone call); to sit down (on a chair).

A Group 2 (ichidan) verb with remarkably many meanings depending on context: hanging a picture (絵を掛ける), making a call (電話を掛ける), putting on glasses (眼鏡を掛ける), sitting down (腰を掛ける), and locking a door (鍵を掛ける). Context determines the specific meaning.

Examples

1. 壁に絵を掛けました。 I hung a picture on the wall.
2. 友達に電話を掛けます。 I'm going to call my friend.
3. 眼鏡を掛けている人は誰ですか。 Who is the person wearing glasses?

Usage Guide

Context: home, phone calls, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 掛 combines 扌 (hand radical) with 卦 (divination), though the modern meaning focuses on the physical act of hanging or placing something. The character has accumulated many extended meanings over centuries of use.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal