かい
🃏 Flashcard
かい
kai
Tap to reveal usage
turns a sentence into a yes/no question
N4
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N4
Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences
Reading
kai
Post ID
50709
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
turns a sentence into a yes/no question
📖 How to use it
Turns a statement into a yes/no question, often with a friendly or polite nuance.
Attaches to
Attaches to the plain form of verbs and adjectives, and to the dictionary form of nouns and na-adjectives (with だ dropped). For polite forms, it can attach to the masu-stem of verbs or the polite form of adjectives/nouns (e.g., ありますかい, きれいかい).
The particle かい is added to the end of a sentence to make it a yes/no question. It is used mostly in casual but not rough speech, often by men, but also by women in some regions or contexts. It sounds softer than just rising intonation, and can be friendly or inviting. It is not used in formal writing or very polite speech.
きみ、日本語がわかるかい？
Kimi, nihongo ga wakaru kai?
Hey, do you understand Japanese?
これ、おいしいかい？
Kore, oishii kai?
Is this tasty?
あした暇かい？
Ashita hima kai?
Are you free tomorrow?
Not か (question particle) and の (explanatory question)
かい is casual and friendly, often used when speaking to someone familiar or younger. Plain か can sound more neutral or even abrupt in casual speech. の adds a nuance of seeking explanation or softening the question. For example, 行く？ vs 行くかい？ vs 行くの？ – かい feels like 'come on, do you go?' while の feels like 'are you going?' (with context).
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Primarily spoken, casual but polite enough for friendly conversation; not used in formal writing or with keigo.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
かい
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat かい 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 かい. 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 N4 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern かい mean?
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Turns a sentence into a yes/no question
What JLPT level is かい?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use かい in a sentence?
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Attach かい (kai) 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 かい formal or casual Japanese?
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かい is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember かい 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.