Meaning

Primary

To Be Involved

Alternatives

To Be Related, To Be Connected

Word Type

intransitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

You know that the kanji means related. As a verb, this often means to be involved, to be related, and to be connected. Basically, things that have to do with being related to something else.

Reading

かかわる
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

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:

Ever heard of the "Kaw Kaw (かか) Crow Gang"? They are bad news, always eating from garbage and squawking "kaw kaw" ... You don't want to be involved with them.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • それに関わる

    to be involved in it, to be related to it

    全面的に関わる

    to be fully involved

    命に関わる

    endanger one's life, life-threatening

Context Sentences

これは人々の生活に関わる大問題だ。

This is a huge problem related to people's everyday lives.

今まで色々なプロジェクトに関わってきましたが、今回のプロジェクトが一番ワクワクします。

I have been involved in many projects, but this one is the most exciting.

アレルギーは軽く見たらダメだよ。命に関わることもあるんだから!

Allergies are not to be taken lightly. They can be life-threatening!

Kanji Composition