1To hang something (a coat, a picture, etc.) on a wall, hook, or nail; also to hoist or raise (a sail, a flag).
コートは玄関のフックに掛けてください。
Please hang your coat on the hook by the entrance.
壁に旅行先で買った絵を掛けた。
I hung a picture I'd bought on my trip on the wall.
船員たちは帆を高く掛けた。
The crew hoisted the sail high.
2To put something over or on top of (e.g. a blanket); to cover or drape.
寝ている赤ちゃんにそっと毛布を掛けた。
I gently put a blanket over the sleeping baby.
食卓に新しいテーブルクロスを掛けた。
I put a new tablecloth on the dining table.
3To put on or wear glasses, a necklace, and similar items.
彼は眼鏡を掛けて新聞を読んでいる。
He has his glasses on and is reading the newspaper.
母は祖母の形見のネックレスを掛けて出かけた。
My mother went out wearing the necklace she inherited from my grandmother.
4To make a phone call. Usually appears as 電話をかける and is normally written in kana.
あとで彼女に電話をかけてみるよ。
I'll try giving her a call later.
急ぎの用なら携帯に電話をかけてください。
If it's urgent, please call my cell phone.
夜遅くに電話をかけるのは失礼だ。
It's rude to call someone late at night.
5To spend or expend time, money, effort, etc. on something.
この企画には半年も時間を掛けた。
We spent half a year on this project.
お金を掛けなくても楽しめる趣味はたくさんある。
There are plenty of hobbies you can enjoy without spending money.
彼は料理に手間を掛けるのをいとわない。
He doesn't mind taking time and trouble over his cooking.
6To pour, sprinkle, or splash a liquid or powder onto something.
サラダにドレッシングを掛けて食べた。
I ate the salad with dressing poured over it.
焼き魚に醤油を少し掛けると味が引き立つ。
A little soy sauce on grilled fish brings out the flavor.
子供がふざけて友達に水を掛けた。
The kid splashed water on his friend for fun.
7To turn on or operate a device (engine, radio), set a dial or alarm, or play media.
エンジンを掛けて車を温めておいた。
I started the engine and let the car warm up.
好きな曲を掛けて家事をするのが日課だ。
Putting on my favorite songs while doing chores is part of my daily routine.
明日は早いので目覚ましを六時に掛けた。
I have an early start tomorrow, so I set the alarm for six.
8To cause someone trouble, worry, or a burden; to impose on someone. Common in 迷惑をかける, 心配をかける.
ご迷惑を掛けて申し訳ありませんでした。
I'm very sorry for the trouble I caused you.
親に心配を掛けたくないので連絡はまめにしている。
I keep in touch often because I don't want to worry my parents.
9In arithmetic, to multiply one number by another.
三に四を掛けると十二になる。
Three times four is twelve.
縦の長さに横の長さを掛ければ面積が出る。
Multiply the length by the width to get the area.
10To lock or fasten something with a key or lock. Common as 鍵をかける.
出かける前に必ず玄関の鍵を掛けてください。
Be sure to lock the front door before you go out.
自転車にチェーンロックを掛けて駅に停めた。
I put a chain lock on my bike and parked it at the station.
11To take a seat; to sit down (on a chair, bench, etc.). Used as 腰をかける.
公園のベンチに腰を掛けてひと休みした。
I sat down on a park bench and took a break.
どうぞそちらの椅子に掛けてお待ちください。
Please have a seat in that chair and wait.
12To bind or fasten something with rope or cord. A somewhat dated usage.
崩れないように荷物に縄を掛けて縛った。
I tied a rope around the load so it wouldn't fall apart.
13To wager, bet, stake, or risk something on an outcome. When staking something serious (one's life, honor) it is also written 懸ける.
彼は人生を懸けてこの研究に取り組んだ。
He devoted his whole life to this research, staking everything on it.
優勝を懸けた試合に大勢の観客が集まった。
A huge crowd gathered for the match with the championship at stake.
14To put an effect on someone or something, such as a spell, hypnosis, or anesthetic.
手術の前に全身麻酔を掛けた。
They administered general anesthesia before the surgery.
魔女は王子に眠りの魔法を掛けた。
The witch cast a sleeping spell on the prince.
15To stage or put on a play, show, or similar event.
その劇団は来月から新作を掛ける。
The troupe will stage its new production starting next month.
16To direct an emotion such as pity, hope, or expectation toward someone. As in 期待をかける, 情けをかける.
監督は若手選手に大きな期待を掛けている。
The coach has high hopes for the young players.
困っている人に情けを掛けるのは当然のことだ。
It's only natural to show compassion to someone in trouble.
17To bring a matter before a court or meeting for trial or deliberation. As in 裁判にかける, 会議にかける.
その提案は次の会議に掛けて決めることになった。
It was decided that the proposal would be put to the next meeting.
18To intensify or accelerate something further. Mostly used as 拍車を掛ける, meaning to spur something on.
円安が物価の上昇に拍車を掛けている。
The weak yen is accelerating the rise in prices.
19To catch or ensnare someone in a trap or scheme. Used as 罠にかける.
猟師は山に罠を掛けて獲物を待った。
The hunter set a trap in the mountains and waited for prey.
犯人を罠に掛けて自白させた。
They lured the culprit into a trap and got him to confess.
20To set or place something on top of a surface or heat source, as in 鍋を火にかける (put a pot on the stove).
やかんを火に掛けてお茶の用意をした。
I put the kettle on the stove to make tea.
鍋を火に掛けたまま出かけてはいけない。
You mustn't leave a pot on the stove and go out.
21To erect or set up a makeshift or temporary structure (tent, shed, etc.).
祭りの広場に芝居小屋を掛けた。
They put up a makeshift theater shed in the festival square.
22To take out an insurance policy on something. Used as 保険をかける.
新しい車に車両保険を掛けておいた。
I took out collision insurance on the new car.
家族のために生命保険を掛けている。
I have life insurance for the sake of my family.
23To pun, or use a word as a pivot carrying two meanings (kakekotoba). Used in classical poetry and wordplay.
和歌では「松」に「待つ」を掛けることが多い。
In waka poetry, 「松」(pine) is often used as a pun on 「待つ」(to wait).
24A suffix after a verb's -masu stem meaning the action has just begun but is not finished, or is about to happen. Normally written in kana.
何か言いかけてやめた。
He started to say something, then stopped.
風邪は治りかけだから油断しないほうがいい。
The cold is only just starting to get better, so you'd better not let your guard down.
25A suffix after a verb's -masu stem adding the meaning of directing the action at someone, as in 話しかける, 問いかける. Normally written in kana.
電車で知らない人に話しかけられた。
A stranger struck up a conversation with me on the train.
彼女は静かに「本当にいいの」と問いかけた。
She quietly asked, 「Are you really sure?」