Meaning
Turns a question with いつ, どこ, 何, or another question word into part of a sentence.
Formation
- Question word + plain form + か: いつ来るか
- It is followed by 知っている, 分かる, 教える, 覚えている
When to use it
- Core use
- An embedded question: where, what, when
Examples
20 sentences-
田中さんがいつ来るか知っていますか
Do you know when Tanaka will come?
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どの電車に乗ればいいか教えてください
Please tell me which train I should take.
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猫がどこに隠れたか分かりません
I do not know where the cat hid.
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赤ちゃんがなぜ泣いているか分かりますか
Do you know why the baby is crying?
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この料理をどうやって作るか教えてください
Please tell me how to make this dish.
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この手紙を誰が書いたか知っていますか
Do you know who wrote this letter?
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友だちに何を贈るかまだ決めていません
I have not decided what to give my friend yet.
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祭りに何人来たか数えられません
I cannot count how many people came to the festival.
12 more examples
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どちらの道が海へ続くか地図で確認しました
I checked the map to see which road leads to the sea.
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花火が何時に始まるか聞いてみましょう
Let's ask what time the fireworks begin.
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切符はどこで買うか教えてください
Please tell me where to buy a ticket.
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この問題はだれに聞くか教えてください
Please tell me who to ask about this problem.
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次はいつ来るか教えてください
Please tell me when you will come next.
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旅行に何を持っていくか教えてください
Please tell me what you will take on the trip.
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これはどう説明するか教えてください
Please tell me how to explain this.
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どのボタンを押すか教えてください
Please tell me which button to press.
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家を何時に出るか教えてください
Please tell me what time you leave home.
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どちらを選ぶか教えてください
Please tell me which of the two to choose.
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いくら払うか教えてください
Please tell me how much to pay.
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車はどこに止めるか教えてください
Please tell me where to park the car.
Important notes
- Question word plus か embeds a question as part of a larger sentence.
Common mistakes
- Use plain forms before the embedded か: 何を食べたか覚えていますか.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.
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