か
Question Marker / Or
ka
TypeFinal
JLPT Leveln5
Summary
Marks a question at the end of a sentence. Also used between nouns to mean 'or'.
Usage Rules
- •Question marker: placed at end of polite sentences
- •Or: AかB = A or B
- •Whether: 〜かどうか = whether or not
- •Embedded questions: どこに行くか知っていますか？
- •Casual questions often drop か and use rising intonation
- •〜かも = may, might (かもしれない)
Example Sentences
おげんきですか？
How are you?
コーヒーかこうちゃをください。
Please give me coffee or tea.
行くかどうかきめていない。
I haven't decided whether to go.
どこにいるかおしえてください。
Please tell me where you are.
もりさんは来るかもしれません。
Mr. Mori might come.
Common Mistake
Using both か and ですか together (redundant — ますか already includes question).