Structure
Question Word + か + わかる(1)
(1) 覚える、決める、知っている and so on
Details
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Standard
使用域
一般
About Question-phrase + か
Adverbial Particle: 副助詞 - Highlights uncertain things '不確かであること'. This is the same か as in どこか 'somewhere'.
Sentence Ending Particle: 終助詞 - Highlights doubts and questions '疑問や質問'. This is a direct question.
In the case of the adverbial particle か and 'uncertain things', this will almost always be followed by a word that is seeking information about the uncertain thing.
- 忘年会に社長が来るか分かりますか?Do you know if the CEO is coming to the end of year party? (Literally, 'If the CEO is coming, do you know?')
- これで足りるか分かる?Do you know if this is enough? (Literally, 'If this is enough, do you know?')
- 何でこのビルを壊すか知っていますか。Do you know why they are destroying this building? (Literally, 'Why they are destroying it, do you know?')
- お祭りは何時に終わるか知ってる?Do you know what time the festival is going to end? (Literally, 'What time it will end, do you know?')
Synonyms
Examples
僕がどこにいるかわかる?
Do you know where I am?
いつ美術館に行くか決めましたか?
Have you decided when you are going to the art museum?
彼の好みの味が何かわかる?
Do you know what kind of flavor(s) he likes?
彼が誰のことを好きかわかりません。
I do not know who he likes.
何を消したか知っている?
Do you know what was erased?
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Additional Examples
J-nihongo
Embedded Questions
Tae Kim
'Buried Questions'
Cure Dolly [video]
Offline
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 192
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 98
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 36
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Question-phrase + か – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (7 in total)
Pushindawood
About 3 years ago
@DonChanHype Thank you for your comment! I have added かどうか and some other grammar points to the related section. I have also included the Tae Kim link that you provided in the Readings section. Cheers!
DonChanHype
About 3 years ago
Thanks as always!
WireMouse
About 5 months ago
It might be helpful to include sentences that use the nominalization のか as well, since I’ve been getting confused when seeing that out in the wild. For example, this WaniKani sentence: 「字がきたなすぎて、薬方に何が書いてあるのかさっぱり分かりません。」
In this grammar point, か comes right after the verb, with no nominalizer, but のか can happen as well, right?
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