Structure
Verb (A) + か + Verb (B) + か
[い]Adjective (A) + か + [い]Adjective (B) + か
[な]Adjective (A) + か + [な]Adjective (B) + か
Noun (A) + か + Noun (B) + か
Details
Part of Speech
Particle
Word Type
Adverbial Particle
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Standard
品詞
助詞
単語の種類
副助詞
使用域
一般
About か
One of the common uses of the particle か is often translated to 'or' in English. While this translation is accurate, it is not actually any different from か's regular usage as a question marker.
From these examples, we can see that, in Japanese, か is performing the same role that a question mark would, or that a change in tone of voice would in spoken language.
'Would you like tea? coffee?' (said with a rising tone).
This nuance of か can be used after the dictionary form of almost any word in Japanese. However, using です or ます will change the nuance from 'presenting possibilities', to 'asking a formal question', so should be avoided.
Synonyms
Examples
ここかそこ。
Here or there?
ここのレストランかあそこ のレストランでいい。
This restaurant or that restaurant is good.
これは私のペンかあなたのペンですか。
Is this my pen or your pen?
走るか歩く。
To run or to walk.
赤か青。
Red or blue.
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Online
All about 「か」: See #5
JapaneseAmmo
Parallel Markers
Wasabi
Offline
みんなの日本語 I
Page 20 [CH 2]
Tobira
Page 45
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 164
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か – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (8 in total)
John_Doe
thanks!!!
lungmao3
Hiya, please can anyone explain if the second か is left implied in some of the examples on the page? E.g. “ここかそこ。” do you only need one か?
StaceySuteishi
こんいちは!
I have 2 questions regarding the “structure” section of the grammar explanation.
Structure
- Verb (A) + か + Verb (B) + か
- [い]Adjective (A) + か + [い]Adjective (B) + か
- [な]Adjective (A) + か + [な]Adjective (B) + か
- Noun (A) + か + Noun (B) + か
First question is, does it always have to be a noun with a noun, an い adj with an い adj, etc?
Second question is, what is the second か after the Noun (B), Verb (B), etc? I don’t see that coming up in any of the examples.
ありがとう!
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