Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 3: 3/13

Or

Structure Legend

Structure

Verb (A) + + Verb (B) +
[い]Adjective (A) + + [い]Adjective (B) +
[な]Adjective (A) + + [な]Adjective (B) +
Noun (A) + + Noun (B) +

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Particle

  • Word Type

    Adverbial Particle

  • Register

    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 is often translated to 'or' in English. While this translation is accurate, it is not actually any different from 's regular usage as a question marker.
  • それ(かあ)さん(くつ)(とう)さん(くつ)
    Are those mom's shoes, or dad's shoes?
  • それ(かあ)さん(くつ)。お(とう)さん(くつ)
    Are those mom's shoes? Dad's shoes?
From these examples, we can see that, in Japanese, 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 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.
  • 今日(きょう)明日(あした)(やす)
    Today or tomorrow, when will I take a break? (The speaker is thinking this to themselves)
  • 今日(きょう)明日(あした)(やす)ます
    Will you take a break today or tomorrow? (The speaker is asking another person)

Examples

  • ここそこ

    Here or there?

  • ここレストランあそこ レストランいい

    This restaurant or that restaurant is good.

  • これ(わたし)ペンあなたペンです

    Is this my pen or your pen?

  • (はし)(ある)

    To run or to walk.

  • (あか)(あお)

    Red or blue.

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    • 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

    John_Doe

    About 5 years ago

    thanks!!!

  • lungmao3

    lungmao3

    About 2 years ago

    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

    StaceySuteishi

    About 1 year ago

    こんいちは!

    I have 2 questions regarding the “structure” section of the grammar explanation.

    Structure

    • Verb (A) + + Verb (B) +
    • [い]Adjective (A) + + [い]Adjective (B) +
    • [な]Adjective (A) + + [な]Adjective (B) +
    • Noun (A) + + Noun (B) +

    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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