KANAKUMA

JLPT N5 · Reference, existence, and questions

〜か

Turns a statement into a question

Meaning

Put か at the end of a polite sentence to ask the listener a question.

Formation

  1. Polite sentence + か: 学生ですか, 行きますか.
  2. A question word stays in its normal position: 駅はどこですか.

When to use it

Yes-or-no question
Checks whether the entire preceding statement is true.
Information question
Combines with だれ, 何, どこ, いつ, and other question words.

Examples

16 sentences

  • 駅えきはどこですか

    Where is the station?

  • これはあなたの本ほんですか

    Is this your book?

  • 明日あした学校がっこうへ行きいきますか

    Will you go to school tomorrow?

  • 田中たなかさんは先生せんせいですか

    Is Mr. Tanaka a teacher?

  • コーヒーを飲みのみますか

    Do you drink coffee?

  • 何時なんじに起きおきますか

    What time do you get up?

  • あの人ひとは料理人りょうりにんですか

    Is that person a cook?

  • 妹さんいもうとさんは大学生だいがくせいですか

    Is your younger sister a university student?

8 more examples

  • こちらは出口でぐちですか

    Is this the exit?

  • この建物たてものは美術館びじゅつかんですか

    Is this building an art museum?

  • その箱はこの中身なかみはお菓子おかしですか

    Is the content of that box sweets?

  • 私わたしの担当たんとうは受付うけつけですか

    Is my assignment reception duty?

  • あちらの女性じょせいは看護師かんごしですか

    Is that woman over there a nurse?

  • 今日きょうの昼ご飯ひるごはんはカレーですか

    Is today's lunch curry?

  • 兄あにの専門せんもんは歴史れきしですか

    Is my older brother's specialty history?

  • 次つぎの授業じゅぎょうは音楽おんがくですか

    Is the next class music?

Important notes

  • Japanese writing normally does not need a question mark after か because the particle already marks the question.
  • In casual speech, rising intonation often makes a question without か.

Common mistakes

  • Do not rearrange words as in an English question; add か to a complete Japanese sentence.
  • Do not confuse question か with the か used to list alternatives in 〜か〜か.

Check yourself

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

  1. こちらは出口でぐちですか
  2. あちらの女性じょせいは看護師かんごしですか
  3. 次つぎの授業じゅぎょうは音楽おんがくですか

Similar grammar

Hear it in podcasts

The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.

The trainer requires a free account. Examples and practice questions on this page are available without signing up.

All N5 grammarPractise in the app