Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 4: 11/18

掛(が)けにOn the way to, As you go

Kanji is rarely used

Structure

Verb［ます］+ がけに

Details

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About がけに

Although not used much in modern Japanese, the suffix 掛(が)け 'support', or 'hanger' followed by に may occasionally appear after the ます-stem of verbs. When seen used this way, 掛(が)けに simply means 'on the way', 'as you go', or 'while doing (A)'. (B) may just be considered as something done while doing (A), or as being done specifically because (A) is a good opportunity to do it.

This structure may be used either with or without kanji, so it will be important to remember both.

Fun-fact

掛(か)ける is one of the more difficult verbs in Japanese, as it does not have an exact counterpart in English. However, in most cases it just means to lay, extend, or place something across either a physical or metaphorical surface or span. In this way, it may help to remember (A) as the span from which (B) will occur.

Examples

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    女(おんな)の子(こ)の噂話(うわさばなし)：「さっきあいつ、来(き)掛(が)けに妙(みょう)なことを言(い)ってたね。」

    Girls gossiping: 'Just now, on the way here, that dude was saying weird things.'

    友達(ともだち)との話(はなし)：「帰(かえ)り掛(が)けにタイコさんを誘(さそ)って一緒(いっしょ)に戻(もど)ろうか。」

    Chat between friends: 'Do you want to invite Taiko on the way home, and go back together?'

    先生(せんせい)は生徒(せいと)と話(はな)している：「タカスさん、このプリントを帰(かえ)り掛(が)けにアイサカさんに持(も)って行(い)ってください。」

    A teacher is talking with a student: 'Takasu, please bring this handout to Aisaka on the way home.'

    ライトノベル：「彼(かれ)はスーパーへの行(い)き掛(が)けに何(なに)かを思(おも)い出(だ)したように突然(とつぜん)止(と)まり速(はや)く家(いえ)に帰(かえ)った。」

    Light novel: 'He suddenly stopped as if he remembered something on his way to the supermarket and quickly returned home.'

    病気(びょうき)の友達(ともだち)の見舞(みま)いに行(い)く時(とき)、友達(ともだち)との話(はなし)：「病院(びょういん)への行(い)き掛(が)けに花屋(はなや)に寄(よ)って花束(はなたば)を買(か)おう。」

    Visiting a sick friend, chat between friends: 'Let's drop by the florist on the way to the hospital, and buy a bouquet.'

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      がけに – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

      • Hadros232232

        Hadros232232

        What is the difference between がけに and ついでに?

      • Pushindawood

        Pushindawood

        It might be easier to think of 掛がけに as an old-fashioned 途中とちゅうで as they are almost always interchangeable. Now, what differs between 途中で and ついでに is the order in which actions are performed. Let’s look at some examples to see how they are both interpreted:

        「コンビニに行ったついでに本屋に寄った。」
        This sentence can either mean “I went to the convenience store and the bookstore” or “I went to the bookstore and the convenience store.” This is why ついでに is often interpreted as “while you’re at it” with no clear way to tell which action was performed first (it is irrelevant).

        「コンビニに行く途中で本屋に寄った。」
        This sentence can only mean “I stopped by the bookstore on the way to the convenience store.” The speaker is expressing that they went to the bookstore first and then went to the convenience store. This is why the kanji in 掛がけに (掛) can be interpreted as “in the midst of.”

        I hope this helps! Cheers.

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