鍵をかける
kagi o kakeru
To lock in Japanese is 鍵をかける (kagi o kakeru).
鍵をかける is used when you want to fasten a lock on a door, a drawer or a container to keep it secure. Note that this phrase is used for objects. You would not use this specific phrase to mean 'locking' a person inside a room.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means 'to hang/apply a key'. The noun 鍵 (kagi) means 'key' or 'lock'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the past tense, use 鍵をかけた (kagi o kaketa). When making a request or connecting sentences, use the te-form 鍵をかけて (kagi o kakete).
How do you pronounce it?
kagi o kakeru
Did you know?
- The verb かける in 鍵をかける can also mean 'to make a phone call' or 'to cast a spell'. In Japanese, the same word is used for the action of applying or launching something across a distance.
- Even when using a thumb-turn lock that requires no physical key to operate, Japanese speakers will still use the phrase 鍵をかける (kagi o kakeru).
- You will often see the formal term 施錠する (sejō suru) on signs and manuals, which serves as a technical alternative to 鍵をかける.
Examples in context
- ドアに鍵をかけるのを忘れないように。Remember to lock the door.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase 鍵をかける in the context of a reminder.Tatoeba #201876 by bunbuku, translation #39088 by Swift
- 出かけるときは、ドアに鍵をかけるのを忘れないように気をつけてください。Please be careful not to forget to lock the door when you go out.This sentence shows how to use 鍵をかける when giving a polite instruction regarding leaving the house.Tatoeba #234011 by KK_kaku_, translation #71384 by CK
- 物置に鍵をかけるのを忘れちゃった。I forgot to lock the storeroom.This sentence demonstrates the use of 鍵をかける when expressing that a task was forgotten.Tatoeba #83740 by mookeee, translation #319976 by CK
- 公共の場では、荷物を施錠してください。Please lock your belongings in public areas.
- 会議室は退出する前に、鍵を掛けてください。Please lock the conference room before leaving.
- スマートフォンをロックしておくと安全ですよ。It's safer to lock your smartphone, you know.
Example conversation
Two people are getting ready to leave the house.
- 陽葵 Himari玄関の鍵をかける？genkan no kagi o kakeru?Are you locking the front door?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、今鍵をかけるよ。un, ima kagi o kakeru yo.Yeah, I'm locking it now.
- 陽葵 Himariちゃんと鍵をかけた？chanto kagi o kaketa?Did you lock it properly?
- 大翔 Hiroto大丈夫、しっかり鍵をかけたよ。daijoubu, shikkari kagi o kaketa yo.It's fine, I locked it securely.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
