By ProDev Teach | Updated May 2025
📘 Meaning & Usage
The grammar pattern か～か is used to list two or more choices or possibilities, similar to “A or B” in English.
- It connects two nouns, verbs, or adjectives that are being considered.
- Used often when asking questions or expressing uncertainty between two options.
🔍 Structure
Noun / Verb / Adj + か + Noun / Verb / Adj + か
Examples:
- りんごかバナナか – apple or banana
- 行くか行かないか – go or not go
📝 Example Sentences
- コーヒーかお茶か、どちらが好きですか？
Kōhī ka ocha ka, dochira ga suki desu ka?
Do you prefer coffee or tea? - 彼が学生か先生かわかりません。
Kare ga gakusei ka sensei ka wakarimasen.
I don’t know if he is a student or a teacher. - 行くか行かないか、まだ決めていません。
Iku ka ikanai ka, mada kimeteimasen.
I haven’t decided whether I will go or not. - 雨か雪か、どちらかわかりません。
Ame ka yuki ka, dochira ka wakarimasen.
I don’t know if it’s rain or snow.
📚 Grammar Notes
- Often used in sentences with わかりません (I don’t know) or きめていません (haven’t decided).
- Can be used in both questions and statements.
- If used in questions, it invites a choice: “Which one?”
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blanks using か～か:
- パン（＿＿）ごはん（＿＿）、どちらがいいですか？
- 今日行く（＿＿）明日行く（＿＿）、まだわかりません。
- 赤（＿＿）青（＿＿）、どちらを買いますか？
✔ Answers:
- パンかごはんか、どちらがいいですか？
- 今日行くか明日行くか、まだわかりません。
- 赤か青か、どちらを買いますか？
2. Translate into Japanese:
- Do you want tea or coffee?
- I don’t know if it’s cold or hot.
- I haven’t decided whether I’ll go or not.
✔ Sample Answers:
- お茶かコーヒーか、どちらがいいですか？
- 寒いか暑いかわかりません。
- 行くか行かないか、まだ決めていません。
🈶 Vocabulary & Kanji Breakdown
| Word | Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 学生 | 学生 | がくせい | Student |
| 先生 | 先生 | せんせい | Teacher |
| 行く | 行く | いく | To go |
| 決める | 決める | きめる | To decide |
| わかる | 分かる | わかる | To understand/know |
| お茶 | お茶 | おちゃ | Tea |
| 雨 | 雨 | あめ | Rain |
| 雪 | 雪 | ゆき | Snow |
🔗 Related Grammar
- か: Question particle
- や～や: Listing items (A, B, etc.)
- かどうか: Whether or not (N4 level)
🧠 Summary
- か～か is used to express alternatives (A or B).
- Often appears with uncertain phrases like わかりません or 決めていません.
- Level: JLPT N5
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I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.
