Translation guide
Expresses that something is true or will happen regardless of conditions, or introduces two alternatives. In Japanese, this is often expressed with patterns like 〜かどうか, 〜ても〜なくても, or 〜にかかわらず.
To express uncertainty or to embed a yes/no question within a statement, like 'I don't know whether or not he will come.'
I don't know whether or not he will come.
Please check whether or not that is true.
A shorter alternative, often used in casual speech or writing. It can sound slightly more direct or informal than 〜かどうか.
I don't know if he'll come.
To say that something will happen or is true no matter if a condition is met or not, like 'Whether or not it rains, I'll go.'
Used with verbs and adjectives. Repeat the word in affirmative and negative て-form. This clearly expresses 'whether or not' in the sense of 'regardless of whether X or not X'.
Whether or not it rains, I'll go.
Whether or not it's expensive, I'll buy it.
A more formal pattern meaning 'regardless of'. It attaches to nouns or the plain form of verbs/adjectives + かどうか. Often used in written or formal contexts.
A formal, literary pattern meaning 'whether it be X or Y'. It is used with nouns and emphasizes that the result is the same regardless of the alternatives.
To present two possibilities, often in the structure 'whether X or Y', like 'Whether you go by train or by bus, it takes about an hour.'
Lists two alternatives directly. Often followed by a phrase like によって (depending on) or a statement that applies to both.
Whether I go by train or by bus, I haven't decided yet.
Whether we win or lose depends on luck.
Similar to 〜であれ〜であれ but slightly less formal. Means 'whether it's X or Y' and implies that the following statement holds true in either case.
〜かどうか explicitly includes both the affirmative and negative possibilities, making it clearer for 'whether or not'. 〜か alone can sometimes be ambiguous, but in context it often implies the same. In formal writing, 〜かどうか is preferred.
Please tell me whether or not you'll go.
Please tell me if you'll go (or not).
English 'whether or not' cannot be directly translated word-for-word into Japanese. Using かどうか or other patterns is necessary. A common mistake is trying to use もし (if) or か否か (a very formal written form) in casual contexts.
Whether or not the weather is good, the event will be held.
You can apply whether or not you have experience.
Whether it be rain or snow, the match will be held.
Whether you take the train or the bus, it takes time.