か

particle

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).

See also: 何か

• 誰だれかがドアをノックした。

  Someone knocked on the door.

• 何なにか食たべるものはありますか。

  Is there something to eat?

particle

hmm; huh (doubt/uncertainty)

Expresses doubt, uncertainty, or rhetorical questioning, often in casual speech. Can follow other particles like のか, かな.

• 本ほん当とうにそうか？

  Is that really so? (expressing doubt)

• そんなことあるか。

  Huh, can that really happen?

prefix

very (emphatic prefix)

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

• 彼かの女じょはか弱よわい声こえで助たすけを求もとめた。

  She asked for help in a very weak voice.

suffix

-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

• 彼かれの居い場ば所しょは定さだかではない。

  His whereabouts are not certain.

adverb

in that way (archaic adverb)

Archaic adverbial usage, equivalent to あのように or そのように. Not used in modern conversation.

• 古こ文ぶんでは「かく」の意い味みで「か」が使つかわれることがある。

  In classical Japanese, か can be used to mean 'in that way'.