か否かWhether or not
か否か packages a statement as a formal yes-or-no issue: whether it is true, applicable, or to be done. It is used mainly in academic, legal, administrative, policy, and analytical writing.
How it works
The statement before the expression supplies the yes side, while 否 supplies the no side. Here that character is read いな, so the full expression is read かいなか. The resulting unit can become the topic, the object of a verb such as “examine” or “decide,” or the basis on which an outcome depends.
Typical formal uses
These examples present an issue for an official decision or examination rather than asking someone a direct question.
Choose the following particle normally
か否か forms one unit, but it does not determine what follows. Use は when the issue is the topic, を when a verb examines or decides the issue, and によって when a result depends on the answer.
Formal versus everyday wording
か否か and かどうか can express the same basic yes-or-no issue, but their normal settings differ. Use the first in deliberately formal prose; use the second in conversation and general-purpose writing. Changing between them may also call for adjusting the surrounding sentence to match the new register.
More examples
この規定が適用されるか否かは、契約締結日によって決まる。
Whether this provision applies depends on the date the contract was concluded.
Analyzeその行為が違法であるか否かを慎重に検討する必要がある。
It is necessary to examine carefully whether the act is unlawful.
Analyze調査を継続するか否かについて、専門家の意見を求めた。
Expert opinions were sought on whether to continue the investigation.
Analyze結果が統計的に有意であるか否かによって、結論は大きく異なる。
The conclusion differs greatly depending on whether the result is statistically significant.
Analyze提出者が会員か否かを受付で確認する。
Staff at reception verify whether the person submitting the document is a member.
Analyze制度の見直しが必要であるか否かは、今後の利用状況を踏まえて判断する。
Whether the system needs to be reviewed will be determined in light of future usage.
Analyze