か〜か
🃏 Flashcard
か〜か
ka~ka
Tap to reveal usage
or
N5
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N5
Beginner · Basic sentence structures
Reading
ka~ka
Post ID
50623
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
or
📖 How to use it
Used to list alternatives, meaning 'or'.
Attaches to
Attach to the end of each noun, verb plain form, or adjective in the list. For nouns and な-adjectives, attach directly to the stem (no だ). For verbs and い-adjectives, attach to the plain form (dictionary form, past tense, etc.).
This pattern presents two or more options, similar to 'or' in English. It works with nouns, verbs, and adjectives. When listing nouns, just add か after each noun: コーヒーか紅茶. For verbs, use the plain form: 行くか行かないか. For adjectives, use the plain form as well: 高いか安いか. The pattern can also be used with question words like どこか where it means 'somewhere'.
コーヒーか紅茶をください。
Koohii ka koocha o kudasai.
Please give me coffee or tea.
明日は雨か雪でしょう。
Ashita wa ame ka yuki deshoo.
Tomorrow it will probably rain or snow.
行くか行かないか決めてください。
Iku ka ikanai ka kimete kudasai.
Please decide whether you go or not.
Not か (question particle)
The question particle か ends a sentence and turns it into a question. The か～か pattern is used within a sentence to list alternatives. For example, '行くか？' is a question, but '行くか行かないか' is a phrase meaning 'whether to go or not'.
Register
Neutral and commonly used in both speaking and writing.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
か〜か
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat か〜か three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using か〜か. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N5 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern か〜か mean?
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Or
What JLPT level is か〜か?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N5 — Beginner · Basic sentence structures. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use か〜か in a sentence?
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Attach か〜か (ka~ka) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is か〜か formal or casual Japanese?
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か〜か is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember か〜か long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.