1.
to call out to someone; to speak to someone first
To address someone who was not already talking with you — to get their attention, greet them, or offer help. The person is marked with に.
2.
to invite along; to let someone know about an occasion
To ask someone to join an outing, a project, or a team. Common in 今度声をかけてね, 'let me know next time.'
Structure: 声 (voice) + を + かける (to cast, to apply).
Common patterns
- 〜に声をかける: to speak to ~, to invite ~
- 声をかけられる: to be spoken to (the passive is very common)
- 声をかけ合う: to look out for one another by speaking up
- お声がけください: please let me know (polite; the noun form 声がけ)
Usage
Sense 2 is a soft way to ask to be included — 声をかけてね leaves the other person free to decide, unlike a direct 誘ってね. In disaster-preparedness and workplace-safety contexts, 声かけ is a set term for checking on the people around you.
Related Words
Compare:
声を出す (to speak up)