忘れかける (wasurekakeru: to almost forget)
The verb suffix -かける (-kakeru) means “to start to do something” or “to get halfway into something.” To form such a word, simply attach -かける to the -masu stem of a verb.
The word 忘れかける literally means “to start to forget.” One can easily extend that to mean “to almost forget.” In other words, this word puts us on the borderline (!) between memory and forgetfulness.
Here are other -かける examples. Some came from a friend, and some came from Naoko Chino’s excellent book Japanese Verbs at a Glance:
その虫はもう死にかけている。
Sono mushi wa mō shinikakete iru.
The bug is starting to die.
or
The bug is almost dead.虫 (mushi: insect)
死 (shi(nu): to die)読みかけている本。
Yomikakete iru hon.
A book I’m still reading.読 (yo(mu): to read)
本 (hon: book)昨日は疲れていて、本を読みかけたまま眠ってしまった。
Kinō wa tsukarete ite, hon o yomikaketa mama nemutte shimatta.
I was so tired yesterday, I fell asleep while reading a book.昨日 (kinō: yesterday) yesterday + day
疲 (tsuka(reru): to get tired)
本 (hon: book)
読 (yo(mu): to read)
眠 (nemu(ru): to fall asleep)手紙を書きかけたんですが、まだ書いていません。
Tegami o kakikaketa n desu ga, mada kaite imasen.
I started writing the letter, but I haven’t finished yet.手紙 (tegami: letter) hand + paper
書 (ka(ku): to write)
Back to 環境 in a Sentence About Immersion …
