働きかける・働き掛ける|はたらきかけるhatarakikakeru[6]nakadaka (mid-high)

Common
Which spelling to use
働きかける働きかける is the most common written form and the recommended default for beginners; use it when writing the expression.
働き掛ける働き掛ける is a less common written variant of 働きかける; recognize it, but beginners should choose 働きかける instead.
Definitions
  1. ichidan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbto work on (someone); to appeal to; to make approaches to; to pressure; to exert influence on; to seek action from
    彼かれの気持きもちを変かえさせるよう、彼かれに働はたらきかけねばならない。↗
    He must be worked upon so that his feeling may be made to change.
  2. ichidan verb, intransitive verbto begin to work
Conjugation
Dictionary form働きかける(はたらきかける)
Polite (masu)働きかけます(はたらきかけます)
Negative (nai)働きかけない(はたらきかけない)
polite (masen)働きかけません(はたらきかけません)
classical zu / nu働きかけず・働きかけぬ(はたらきかけず・はたらきかけぬ)
Past (ta)働きかけた(はたらきかけた)
polite (mashita)働きかけました(はたらきかけました)
Past negative (nakatta)働きかけなかった(はたらきかけなかった)
polite (masen deshita)働きかけませんでした(はたらきかけませんでした)
Te form働きかけて(はたらきかけて)
Potential働きかけられる(はたらきかけられる)
Passive働きかけられる(はたらきかけられる)
Causative働きかけさせる(はたらきかけさせる)
Causative passive働きかけさせられる(はたらきかけさせられる)
Conditional (ba)働きかければ(はたらきかければ)
tara働きかけたら(はたらきかけたら)
Volitional働きかけよう(はたらきかけよう)
polite (mashou)働きかけましょう(はたらきかけましょう)
Imperative働きかけろ(はたらきかけろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym作用さようWrittenWritten/formal prose. The effect something has on other things — physical, chemical, or psychological and social; 「働きかける」 is a person actively lobbying or pressing.
  • Synonym仕向けるしむけるNeutralNeutral. Maneuvering someone into a specific action, with a nuance of inducing or steering; 「働きかける」 is openly and actively persuading or courting them.
  • Related感化かんかWrittenWritten/formal prose. Changing someone gradually through one's ideas, conduct or works; 「働きかける」 is actively going out to lobby and apply influence.
  • Related影響えいきょうNeutralNeutral. A noun for influence or effect, focused on the result; it does not stress actively pressuring someone the way 「働きかける」 does.
  • Related動かすうごかすNeutralNeutral. Moving or stirring a person or thing into action, as in 「心を動かす」.
  • Antonym無視するNeutralNeutral. Ignoring someone or something; the opposite of 「働きかける」, which actively applies influence.
  • Antonym放置するNeutralNeutral. Leaving something unattended; the opposite of actively lobbying as in 「働きかける」.

Use 「働きかける」 for actively lobbying or applying influence to get someone to act, as in 「政府に働きかける」. For inducing someone, use 「仕向ける」; for moral influence, 「感化」; for influence in general, 「影響」. Antonyms are 「無視する」 and 「放置する」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 相手あいてに向むかって積極的せっきょくてきに行動こうどうを仕掛しかける。
Kanji in this word
See also

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