〜かな: You use this word at the end of a sentence. It means 'I wonder'. You can also use it to ask a very gentle question.

Dictionary

〜かな

You use this word at the end of a sentence. It means 'I wonder'. You can also use it to ask a very gentle question.

KMT4CasualStandardSentence Ending ParticleMixedClassicalClassical Emphatic ParticlesGrammar

Clause + かなPrimary

You use this word at the end of a sentence. It means 'I wonder'. You can also use it to ask a very gentle question.

明日は晴れるかな。

I wonder if it will be sunny tomorrow.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingConjecturalWeather & Geography

この仕事、締め切りに間に合わないかな。

I wonder if I won't make it by the deadline for this job.

CasualNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalWork & Career

「彼はもう帰ったかな」と独り言を言った。

He muttered to himself, "I wonder if he has gone home already."

NeutralPastAffirmativeMid SentenceConjecturalDaily Life

お客様、そろそろお時間ですかな。

Sir/Madam, I wonder if it's about time?

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingConjecturalBusiness & Finance Daily Life

あの映画、面白いと聞いたけど、本当かな。

I heard that movie is interesting, but I wonder if that's true.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingConjecturalMusic & Entertainment

This particle is like talking to yourself. You are thinking about something. You are not asking anyone else. It feels soft and gentle.

This is softer than just saying "ka" at the end. "Ka" asks a direct question. "Kana" asks yourself a question. It is not like "kashira," which only women use. It is also not like "zo," which makes a statement sound very strong.

Use this when you want to suggest something gently. It is like asking yourself a question. This makes your suggestion soft. It helps keep everyone happy in a group.

Contrasts with(2)

〜ぞ

This word makes your statement sound very strong. It is often used by men to declare something or give a warning.

〜こそ

This word makes the thing before it special. It means 'exactly this one' or 'only this one'.

Less formal alternatives(1)

〜なむ

You use this to say you really hope something happens. It sounds a bit old-fashioned, like from a storybook.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

〜だ / 〜だった

This means 'is' or 'was'. It is the casual way to say 〜です and 〜でした.

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Dictionary

〜かな

You use this word at the end of a sentence. It means 'I wonder'. You can also use it to ask a very gentle question.

KMT4CasualStandardSentence Ending ParticleMixedClassicalClassical Emphatic ParticlesGrammar

Clause + かなPrimary

You use this word at the end of a sentence. It means 'I wonder'. You can also use it to ask a very gentle question.

明日は晴れるかな。

I wonder if it will be sunny tomorrow.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingConjecturalWeather & Geography

この仕事、締め切りに間に合わないかな。

I wonder if I won't make it by the deadline for this job.

CasualNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalWork & Career

「彼はもう帰ったかな」と独り言を言った。

He muttered to himself, "I wonder if he has gone home already."

NeutralPastAffirmativeMid SentenceConjecturalDaily Life

お客様、そろそろお時間ですかな。

Sir/Madam, I wonder if it's about time?

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingConjecturalBusiness & Finance Daily Life

あの映画、面白いと聞いたけど、本当かな。

I heard that movie is interesting, but I wonder if that's true.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingConjecturalMusic & Entertainment

This particle is like talking to yourself. You are thinking about something. You are not asking anyone else. It feels soft and gentle.

Use this when you want to suggest something gently. It is like asking yourself a question. This makes your suggestion soft. It helps keep everyone happy in a group.

Contrasts with(2)

〜ぞ

This word makes your statement sound very strong. It is often used by men to declare something or give a warning.

〜こそ

This word makes the thing before it special. It means 'exactly this one' or 'only this one'.

Less formal alternatives(1)

〜なむ

You use this to say you really hope something happens. It sounds a bit old-fashioned, like from a storybook.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

〜だ / 〜だった

This means 'is' or 'was'. It is the casual way to say 〜です and 〜でした.

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〜かな

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Discourse Function1

Compare with3

Contrasts with(2)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites3

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〜かな

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Discourse Function1

Compare with3

Contrasts with(2)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery