KANAKUMA

JLPT N5 · Particles: roles and direction

〜か〜か

Offers a choice between options A and B

Meaning

Offers a choice between options A and B.

Formation

  1. Between nouns: A か B: コーヒーかお茶
  2. Between predicates use plain forms: 行くか行かないか

When to use it

Core use
Offers a choice between options A and B

Examples

13 sentences

  • コーヒーかお茶おちゃをください

    Please give me coffee or tea.

  • 行くいくか行かいかないか決めきめてください

    Please decide whether you will go or not.

  • 土曜日どようびか日曜日にちようびに一緒いっしょに映画えいがを見ませんみませんか

    Would you like to watch a film together on Saturday or Sunday?

  • 店みせでパンか牛乳ぎゅうにゅうを買いかいます

    At the shop I will buy bread or milk.

  • 店みせで本ほんかノートを買いかいます

    At the shop I will buy a book or a notebook.

  • 肉にくか魚さかなか、どちらがいいですか

    Meat or fish — which would you like?

  • 明日あした来るくるか来こないか教えおしえてください

    Please tell me whether you will come tomorrow or not.

  • バスで行くいくか電車でんしゃで行くいくかまだ決めきめていません

    I have not decided yet whether to go by bus or by train.

5 more examples

  • 月曜日げつようびか火曜日かようびに来きてください

    Please come on Monday or Tuesday.

  • 駅えきまでバスかタクシーで行きいきます

    I will go to the station by bus or by taxi.

  • ペンか鉛筆えんぴつで書いかいてください

    Please write with a pen or a pencil.

  • 一週間いっしゅうかんに一回いっかいか二回にかいプールへ行きいきます

    I go to the pool once or twice a week.

  • あの人ひとは学生がくせいか先生せんせいか分かりわかりません

    I do not know whether that person is a student or a teacher.

Important notes

  • か between nouns means 'or' — お茶か水. Between plain predicates it offers a choice: 行くか行かないか決めてください.

Common mistakes

  • お茶か水をください asks for one of the drinks; お茶と水をください asks for both.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

  1. 月曜日げつようびか火曜日かようびに来きてください
  2. ペンか鉛筆えんぴつで書いかいてください
  3. あの人ひとは学生がくせいか先生せんせいか分かりわかりません

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