Japanese word

取り掛かる

Pronunciation

Romajitorikakaru

Meaning

  • verbget down to ___

Example

朝ご飯の後で仕事に取り掛かります。asa go han no ato de shi goto ni to ri ka ka ri ma su

I get down to work after breakfast.

Illustration for 取り掛かる (get down to ___)

More examples

会議が終わったら、新しい計画に取り掛かります。kai gi ga o wa tta ra atara shi i kei kaku ni to ri ka ka ri ma su

When the meeting is over, I start work on the new plan.

Core concept

Describes shifting from preparation or intention to active work on a specific task.

Common phrases

  • 仕事に取り掛かるshi goto ni to ri ka ka ru

    get down to work

  • 作業に取り掛かるsa gyō ni to ri ka ka ru

    start work

  • 課題に取り掛かるka dai ni to ri ka ka ru

    tackle an assignment

  • 計画に取り掛かるkei kaku ni to ri ka ka ru

    begin work on a plan

Similar words

手を付けるteotsukeru: To begin dealing with a task, often after it has been waiting for attention.
始めるhajimeru: To start an activity or task without specifying the extent of the work.
着手するchakushusuru: To begin work on a specific task, often in formal writing or speech.
取り組むtorikumu: To work seriously on a task or problem with focus and continued effort.

Definition in Japanese

仕事や課題などに取り組み始める。shi goto ya ka dai na do ni to ri ku mi haji me ru

Word origin

The native compound 取り掛かる (torikakaru) joins 取る (toru, "take") with 掛かる (kakaru, "be engaged"), portraying a task as something one takes up and begins.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 取り掛かる (torikakaru) commonly appears in the pattern 仕事に取り掛かる (shigoto ni torikakaru), which marks the point when someone moves from planning to doing the work.

Other meanings

  • beginverb
  • tackle ___verb

Opposites

Related words

  • 取り掛かりtorikakaristartnoun

Word lists with this word