Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Either A or B; Whether A or B
🎯 Primary Function
To present two alternative items, states, or actions and indicate that a choice, uncertainty, or doubt exists regarding which one is relevant.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (Plain Form) + か + Verb (Plain Form) + か / Noun + か + Noun + か
i-Adjective (Plain) + か + i-Adjective (Plain) + か
Na-Adjective (Stem) + か + Na-Adjective (Stem) + か
Verb (Negative Plain) + か + Verb (Affirmative Plain) + か / Verb (Plain) + か + Verb (Negative Plain) + か
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in formal written reports or speeches when presenting two definite options or possibilities for consideration.
Informal Situations
Extremely common in daily conversation to ask questions involving choice or to express indecision.
Written Language
Appears in essays, emails, and news articles, particularly when discussing options or results.
Spoken Language
Highly frequent; a standard way to structure a question of alternatives.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing Simple Choice Between Nouns
Used to present two noun options and solicit a selection from the listener.
Example: りんごかみかんか、どちらをたべますか。 (Ringo ka mikan ka, dochira o tabemasu ka. – Which will you eat, an apple or an orange?)
Expressing Uncertainty or Doubt (Verb/Clause Contrast)
Used when the speaker or subject is unsure which of the two contrasting states or actions is true or will occur. Often paired with わかりません (I don’t know) or 決められません (I can’t decide).
Example: 彼がくるかこないか、まだわかりません。 (Kare ga kuru ka konai ka, mada wakarimasen. – I don’t know yet whether he will come or not come.)
Setting Conditions or Alternatives
Used to list options and state that any of the alternatives is acceptable or that a decision needs to be made.
Example: バスかタクシーか、どちらでもかまいません。 (Basu ka takushī ka, dochira demo kamaimasen. – Either the bus or the taxi, either is fine.)
Frequency
High
Difficulty
N5 / N4 (Essential Foundation)
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
コーヒーか紅茶か、どちらがいいですか。
Furigana: コーヒーかこうちゃか、どちらがいいですか。
Romaji: Kōhī ka kōcha ka, dochira ga ii desu ka.
English: Do you want coffee or black tea?
Example #2
明日、雨が降るか、晴れるか、まだわかりません。
Furigana: あした、あめがふるか、はれるか、まだわかりません。
Romaji: Ashita, ame ga furu ka, hareru ka, mada wakarimasen.
English: I still don’t know whether it will rain or be sunny tomorrow.
Example #3
これが正しいか、間違いか、教えてください。
Furigana: これがただしいか、まちがいか、おしえてください。
Romaji: Kore ga tadashii ka, machigai ka, oshiete kudasai.
English: Please tell me whether this is correct or a mistake.
Example #4
彼女が行くか行かないか、確認が必要です。
Furigana: かのじょがいくかいかないか、かくにんがひつようです。
Romaji: Kanojo ga iku ka ikanai ka, kakunin ga hitsuyō desu.
English: We need to confirm whether she is going or not going.
Example #5
それは本当か、嘘か、判断が難しい。
Furigana: それはほんとうか、うそか、はんだんがむずかしい。
Romaji: Sore wa hontō ka, uso ka, handan ga muzukashii.
English: It is difficult to judge whether that is the truth or a lie.
Example #6
静かか賑やかか、どちらの場所が好きですか。
Furigana: しずかかにぎやかか、どちらのばしょがすきですか。
Romaji: Shizuka ka nigiyaka ka, dochira no basho ga suki desu ka.
English: Do you prefer a quiet place or a lively place?
Example #7
彼が学生か社会人か、知りません。
Furigana: かれががくせいかしゃかいじんか、しりません。
Romaji: Kare ga gakusei ka shakaijin ka, shirimasen.
English: I don’t know if he is a student or a working adult.
Example #8
安いか高いかではなく、質が大事だ。
Furigana: やすいかたかいかではなく、しつがだいじだ。
Romaji: Yasui ka takai ka dewa naku, shitsu ga daiji da.
English: It’s not about whether it’s cheap or expensive; quality is what matters.
Example #9
手伝うか手伝わないか、今すぐ決めて。
Furigana: てつだうかてつだわないか、いますぐきめて。
Romaji: Tetsudau ka tetsudawanai ka, ima sugu kimete.
English: Decide right now whether you will help or not help.
Example #10
買うか買わないか、よく考えてから決めてください。
Furigana: かうかかわないか、よくかんがえてからきめてください。
Romaji: Kau ka kawanai ka, yoku kangaete kara kimete kudasai.
English: Please think carefully before deciding whether to buy it or not.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Used to contrast opposites (Affirmative vs. Negative).
The options often express a clear opposition, such as Affirmative vs. Negative (V-ru ka V-nai ka). This is the most common way to present two contradictory choices.
Example: パーティーに行くか行かないか、教えてください。 (Pātī ni iku ka ikanai ka, oshiete kudasai. – Please tell me whether you are going to the party or not going.)
Functions as a compound subject or object clause.
The structure functions as a comprehensive sub-clause that provides the full context for the main predicate, often answering or leading to a question of ‘which one’ (どちら).
Example: A先生の意見か、B先生の意見か、どちらを信じるべきですか。 (A-sensei no iken ka, B-sensei no iken ka, dochira o shinjiru beki desu ka. – Should I believe A-sensei’s opinion or B-sensei’s opinion?)
Can be extended to list three or more alternatives.
While the core pattern is A か B か, it can be extended to include three or more options, though two are most common. If there are three or more, the final choice often uses どれ (dore) or どの (dono).
Example: コーヒーか、紅茶か、お茶か、どれにしますか。 (Kōhī ka, kōcha ka, ocha ka, dore ni shimasu ka. – Will you have coffee, black tea, or green tea?)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ 明日、雨が降るか、晴れますか、わかりません。 (Ashita, ame ga furu ka, haremasu ka, wakarimasen.)
✅ 明日、雨が降りますか、晴れますか、わかりません。 (Ashita, ame ga furimasu ka, haremasu ka, wakarimasen.)
The options linked by ‘か～か’ must generally be in the plain (casual) form, even if the concluding part of the sentence is polite.
❌ 彼が正しいか、間違いか**を**判断してください。 (Kare ga tadashii ka, machigai ka o handan shite kudasai.)
✅ 彼が正しいか、間違いか、判断してください。 (Kare ga tadashii ka, machigai ka, handan shite kudasai.)
When using a verb like ‘判断する (handan suru – to judge)’ or ‘わかる (wakaru – to know),’ the ‘か’ clauses function as a sub-clause that is the object of the main verb, requiring the plain form. Do not use particles like を or が immediately after the second か.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral. The choice options themselves are casual, but the politeness of the overall sentence is determined by the final predicate (e.g., です/ます).
Social Situations: Appropriate for almost all situations where a clear alternative needs to be presented or discussed.
Regional Variations: Standard across all regions.
🔍 Subtle Differences
A か B か vs. A または B
A または B is the formal, written equivalent of ‘or.’ A か B か is generally used for expressing choices or uncertainty where a decision is required or implied.
When to use: Use A または B in legal documents, formal instructions, or when explicitly listing non-exclusive options. Use A か B か in conversation or when expressing doubt.
A か B か vs. A とか B とか
A とか B とか means “A and/or B, among other things” and is highly casual, suggesting non-exhaustive examples. A か B か presents a finite choice between the listed options.
When to use: Use A とか B とか when giving casual examples (e.g., I ate things like sushi or ramen). Use A か B か when you must choose between A and B.
📝 Conjugation Notes
The ‘か～か’ structure requires the plain (dictionary, non-past, past, negative) form of verbs and adjectives for the elements being contrasted. For nouns and na-adjectives, the concluding だ or です is usually dropped when linking the options: [Noun/Na-Adj Stem] + か + [Noun/Na-Adj Stem] + か.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Ensure both ‘か’ particles are pronounced distinctly. In fast speech, the pause between the two options might be minimal, but the contrasting tone should be clear.
🧠 Memory Tips
Relate the ‘か’ particle to its function as a question marker. In ‘A か B か,’ you are essentially asking two questions simultaneously: “Is it A?” and “Is it B?” The structure combines them to mean “Is it A, or is it B?”
Other Grammar
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