1.
to set up; to lay (a trap)
To prepare a device, trap, or mechanism.
森に罠を仕掛けた。
I set a trap in the forest.
爆弾を仕掛けた。
A bomb was planted.
隠しカメラを仕掛ける。
Set up a hidden camera.
ネズミ取りを仕掛けた。
I set up a mousetrap.
いたずらを仕掛ける。
Play a prank.
2.
to start; to begin (something against someone)
To initiate an attack, challenge, or aggressive action.
相手チームが攻撃を仕掛けてきた。
The opposing team launched an attack.
喧嘩を仕掛ける。
Pick a fight.
議論を仕掛けた。
I started an argument.
勝負を仕掛ける。
To challenge to a match.
敵から攻撃を仕掛けられた。
An attack was launched by the enemy.
3.
to be in the middle of
Combined with other verbs to indicate an action has started but is incomplete.
仕事を仕掛けたまま帰ってしまった。
I went home leaving the work half-done.
話しかけの話題があった。
There was a topic I had started discussing.
読みかけの本がある。
I have a book I'm in the middle of reading.
食べかけのケーキ。
A half-eaten cake.
書きかけの手紙を見つけた。
I found a half-written letter.
仕掛ける is a transitive verb (他動詞) meaning to set something in motion or prepare something, often with strategic intent.
ASPECT (ている):
仕掛けている indicates something is set up or an action has been initiated.
PARTICLE PATTERNS:
- [trap/device]を仕掛ける — to set up [trap/device]
- [person]に[action]を仕掛ける — to start [action] against [person]
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 罠を仕掛ける (set a trap)
- 喧嘩を仕掛ける (pick a fight)
- 攻撃を仕掛ける (launch an attack)
- 仕掛け (mechanism, gimmick)
COMPOUND FORM:
〜仕掛ける/〜仕掛け means "in the middle of doing" or "half-done":
- 読みかけの本 (book one is in the middle of reading)
- 食べかけ (half-eaten)
RELATED WORDS:
- 仕掛け: mechanism, trick, gimmick (noun)
- 仕掛け花火: fireworks display