か

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 100

Meanings

question marker

Sentence-final particle that turns a statement into a question. Often used in plain form; in polite speech, ですか is more common.

これは何なんですか。
What is this?
明日あした、来くるか。
Will you come tomorrow?

particle

or; whether or not

Lists alternatives, often in the pattern AかBか. Also used in embedded questions meaning 'whether or not'.

コーヒーか紅こう茶ちゃ、どちらがいいですか。
Which would you like, coffee or tea?
彼かれが来くるかどうか分わからない。
I don't know whether he will come or not.

particle

some- (indefinite)

Attaches to interrogative words (何, 誰, どこ, etc.) to form indefinite pronouns like 何か (something), 誰か (someone).

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉か〈物もの〉かeither A or B (presenting two alternatives)
コーヒーか紅こう茶ちゃか、どちらか選えらんでください。
Please choose either coffee or tea.
〈動どう詞し〉かどうかwhether (someone) will do something or not
行いくかどうかまだ決きめていない。
I haven't decided yet whether I'll go or not.
〈事こと〉のかexpressing surprise or pointed questioning about a fact
本ほん当とうに大だい丈じょう夫ぶなのか。
Is it really okay, I wonder?

Grammar

Related words· 9

かどうか sense 2
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 sense 4
かな softens the doubt or wondering expressed by か, giving a more casual, musing tone than か by itself.
ですか
か is the plain, casual question marker, while ですか is its polite equivalent used in formal or polite speech.
かい
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.

Show 5 more

またはN4
か is a shorter, more casual particle for listing alternatives, while または is more formal and clearly separates distinct options.
やら
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.
ことN4
か is the plain, direct question marker, whereas こと used as a question (its gentle interrogative sense) sounds softer and more reflective.
かしら
か is the plain, neutral question marker, whereas かしら adds a musing, uncertain tone typically linked to women's speech.
かね
か is the plain question particle for direct questions, while かね softens the question into a reflective, doubtful musing.

Don't confuse with

の sense 1
の is a casual, often feminine or intimate question-ending particle, whereas か is the neutral, widely usable question marker.

Written forms

かUsage100%
Kana-only particle; no kanji form exists.
カUsage<1%

Etymology

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.