化ける To Change Form

Meaning

Primary

To Change Form

Alternative

To Transform

Word Type

intransitive verb, ichidan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means change so you'd think the verb version is "to change," but it's a bit more specific. This word means to change form or to transform.

化ける means to change into something else, usually in a surprising and magical way. It's often used in stories where animals or spirits take on human forms. It can also describe transformations in real life that are so dramatic they feel unreal.

Reading

ばける

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you:

You try to transform. You want to turn into something awesome, like a dinosaur, but then *poof* you turn into a sheep. "Baaaa," you say. "Baaa."

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 〜に化ける

  女に化ける

  to transform oneself into a woman

  人に化ける

  transform oneself into someone else

  人間に化ける

  to transform oneself into a human

• 〜が化ける

  データが化ける

  data gets corrupted

  キツネが化ける

  the fox transforms itself

  文字が化ける

  the text becomes garbled

Context Sentences

女も男もメイクで化けることが出来る。

Both women and men can be transformed with makeup.

タヌキは人間に化けるのが上手です。

Raccoon dogs are good at transforming into human beings.

中古のポルシェが三年後に一千万円に化けたって本当ですか？

Is it true that a used Porsche turned into ten million yen after three years?

私の家は一年間のリノベーションで国宝レベルの家に化けた。

My house was transformed into a national treasure-level house with a year of renovation.

Kanji Composition

1. 化

   か Change