Please choose either coffee or tea.
Lists alternatives, often in the pattern AかBか. Also used in embedded questions meaning 'whether or not'.
コーヒーか紅茶、どちらがいいですか。
Which would you like, coffee or tea?
彼が来るかどうか分からない。
I don't know whether he will come or not.
Attaches to interrogative words (何, 誰, どこ, etc.) to form indefinite pronouns like 何か (something), 誰か (someone).
See also: 何か
誰かがドアをノックした。
Someone knocked on the door.
何か食べるものはありますか。
Is there something to eat?
Expresses doubt, uncertainty, or rhetorical questioning, often in casual speech. Can follow other particles like のか, かな.
Emphatic prefix attached to adjectives, e.g., か弱い (very weak). Limited to a few fixed expressions; not freely productive.
See also: か弱い
彼女はか弱い声で助けを求めた。
She asked for help in a very weak voice.
-al, -ial, -ic, -ical, -ish, -y (adjective-forming suffix)
Archaic suffix that forms adjectives or adverbs from indeclinable words, e.g., 定か (certain). Not productive in modern Japanese; found in set words.
See also: 定か
彼の居場所は定かではない。
His whereabouts are not certain.
Archaic adverbial usage, equivalent to あのように or そのように. Not used in modern conversation.
古文では「かく」の意味で「か」が使われることがある。
In classical Japanese, か can be used to mean 'in that way'.
行くかどうかまだ決めていない。
I haven't decided yet whether I'll go or not.
Is it really okay, I wonder?
かどうか is the fixed phrase for 'whether or not', while か alone can also simply list alternatives (AかBか) or mark a direct question.
かな softens the doubt or wondering expressed by か, giving a more casual, musing tone than か by itself.
か is the plain, casual question marker, while ですか is its polite equivalent used in formal or polite speech.
か is the neutral, standard question particle usable in any register, while かい is a softer, more familiar variant typically used by men or in casual speech.
か is a shorter, more casual particle for listing alternatives, while または is more formal and clearly separates distinct options.
か attached to a question word expresses simple uncertainty (何か, いつか), while やら (何やら, いつやら) adds a vaguer, more musing tone.
か is the plain, direct question marker, whereas こと used as a question (its gentle interrogative sense) sounds softer and more reflective.
の is a casual, often feminine or intimate question-ending particle, whereas か is the neutral, widely usable question marker.
Kana-only particle; no kanji form exists.
The particle か is native Japanese, with a long history as a question marker and alternative-listing particle. Its use as an indefinite marker (after interrogatives) and as an emphatic prefix developed from earlier interrogative and exclamatory functions. The archaic suffix and adverb uses are remnants of older grammatical patterns.
か is the plain, neutral question marker, whereas かしら adds a musing, uncertain tone typically linked to women's speech.
か is the plain question particle for direct questions, while かね softens the question into a reflective, doubtful musing.