Question

か

At the end of a sentence, this particle asks a question, like a question mark.

Example

猫ねこが好きですか。 Do you like cats?

It can also be used when there is uncertainty between two or more choices. It can be used once or multiple times.

Example

犬か猫か、どちら選えらんでますかな。 Which should I chose, a dog or a cat?

雨か分わかりません。 I don’t know if it will rain.

かな・かしら

Means “I wonder”, “should I?“. かな is a neutral form, while かしら sounds feminine.

Example

この帽子ぼうしを被かぶろうかな。 Should I wear this hat?

かい

Using this particle, the sentences becomes a yes/no question. Very casual, masculine connotation.

Example

来るのかい。 Are you coming?

どうやって

Means “how”, “in what way”.

Example

これをどうやって作れましたか。 How did you make this?

Probably - right - isn’t it?

でしょう

Means “probably”, “right?“. The polite version of だろう.

Example

このはきれいでしょう。 These clothes are beautiful, aren’t they? (It’s probably what you also think?)

だろう

Means “probably”, “right?“. The casual version of でしょう.

Example

今日また雨だろう。 It will probably rain again.

ではないか

Means “isn’t it?“. The polite version of じゃないか.

Example

今の揺ゆれは地じ震しんではないか。 That shaking is an earthquake, isn’t it?

じゃないか

Means “isn’t it?“. The casual version of ではないか.

Example

アイスクリームを食べようじゃないか。 Let’s have some ice cream, shall we?

ね

This particle when added to the end of a sentence meaning “right?“.

Example

今日は寒さむいですね。 It’s cold today, right?

Summing up

• でしょう・だろう expresses a probability or an assumption.
• ではないか・じゃないか invites or suggests an action.
• ね asks an agreement or a confirmation.

ことか

V

い-Adj

な-Adj + な

N + である

+ ことか

Means “how” or “what”. Used to describe an extent that is unusual or unbelievable. It is mostly used in written contexts, as it is a bit dramatic.

Example

フランスには、パン屋やの多おおさにどれほど信しんじられないことか。 It’s incredible how many bakeries there are in France.