〜のか: This is a question word. You use it when you are surprised. You also use it when you want more information.

Dictionary

〜のか

This is a question word. You use it when you are surprised. You also use it when you want more information.

N4 KMT4NeutralStandardSentence Ending ParticleMixedAggressive Interrogation And AccusationGrammar

Verb [dictionary form] + のかPrimary

い-Adjective + のか

な-Adjective + なのか

Noun + なのか

This is a question word. You use it when you are surprised. You also use it when you want more information.

え、もう帰るのか？まだパーティーは始まったばかりだぞ。

What, you're leaving already? The party has just started!

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingEmphaticDaily Life Family & Relationships

何度説明しても、まだ分からないのか。

No matter how many times I explain it, you still don't get it?

RoughNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalEducation Emotions & Psychology

そうか、あの二人は結局別れたのか。

I see... so those two broke up in the end?

NeutralPastAffirmativeSentence EndingEvidentialFamily & Relationships

一体何が目的なのか、彼らの行動は理解に苦しむ。

I struggle to understand their actions; what on earth is their objective?

FormalNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativePolitics & Law Work & Career

なぜ自分だけがこんなに辛いのかと、彼は空を仰いだ。

Wondering why he alone was suffering so much, he looked up at the sky.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceEvidentialEmotions & Psychology Literature

This grammar asks about a situation. It is like saying, 'Is it true that...?' You are asking for details. You want to understand why something is happening.

This is different from a simple "か" because it shows more feeling. It is not as polite as "のですか". It is also not as strong as "のかよ" or "じゃねえか". It is not as soft as "かい".

Use this when you want to ask a question to yourself. You are thinking about something. You are not asking another person. You might be confused. You might be surprised.

Often confused with(1)

〜のかい？

You add this to the end of a question. It shows you are a little surprised or curious. Men often use it when talking to younger people.

Contrasts with(1)

〜かい

This word asks a yes or no question. Older men often use it. They use it with people younger than them. It sounds very casual and manly.

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.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

Dictionary

〜のか

This is a question word. You use it when you are surprised. You also use it when you want more information.

N4 KMT4NeutralStandardSentence Ending ParticleMixedAggressive Interrogation And AccusationGrammar

Verb [dictionary form] + のかPrimary

い-Adjective + のか

な-Adjective + なのか

Noun + なのか

This is a question word. You use it when you are surprised. You also use it when you want more information.

え、もう帰るのか？まだパーティーは始まったばかりだぞ。

What, you're leaving already? The party has just started!

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingEmphaticDaily Life Family & Relationships

何度説明しても、まだ分からないのか。

No matter how many times I explain it, you still don't get it?

RoughNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalEducation Emotions & Psychology

そうか、あの二人は結局別れたのか。

I see... so those two broke up in the end?

NeutralPastAffirmativeSentence EndingEvidentialFamily & Relationships

一体何が目的なのか、彼らの行動は理解に苦しむ。

I struggle to understand their actions; what on earth is their objective?

FormalNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativePolitics & Law Work & Career

なぜ自分だけがこんなに辛いのかと、彼は空を仰いだ。

Wondering why he alone was suffering so much, he looked up at the sky.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceEvidentialEmotions & Psychology Literature

This grammar asks about a situation. It is like saying, 'Is it true that...?' You are asking for details. You want to understand why something is happening.

Use this when you want to ask a question to yourself. You are thinking about something. You are not asking another person. You might be confused. You might be surprised.

Often confused with(1)

〜のかい？

You add this to the end of a question. It shows you are a little surprised or curious. Men often use it when talking to younger people.

Contrasts with(1)

〜かい

This word asks a yes or no question. Older men often use it. They use it with people younger than them. It sounds very casual and manly.

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.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

〜のか

Patterns4

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Discourse Function1

Compare with2

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(1)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery

〜のか

Patterns4

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Discourse Function1

Compare with2

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(1)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery