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Grammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 22

Structure of かどうか:

Verb + + どう + + Phrase
[い]Adjective + + どう + + Phrase
[な]Adjective + + どう + + Phrase
Noun + + どう + + Phrase

Details about かどうか:

かどうか is an expression in Japanese which combines the 'or' meaning of , with the 'how' meaning of どう. (A) かどうか (B) is regularly translated as 'whether or not (A), (B)'.
To use かどうか, simply attach it to the end of any phrase that you want to express the 'or' use of about, then add the (B) phrase.
  • サチコ()()かどうか()からない
    I don't know whether or not I will go out with Sachiko.
  • (みず)(きたな)からこの(かわ)(ふか)かどうか()からない。
    Since the water is dirty, I don't know whether or not this river is deep.
  • この携帯(けいたい)便利(べんり)かどうか()からない
    I don't know whether or not this cell phone is useful.
  • ()(わる)からあそこにいるのが父親(ちちおや)かどうかわからない
    Because I have bad eyes, I don't know whether or not the person over there is my father.
Although 'whether or not' is the standard translation, the more literal translation of かどうか is 'if it's (A), or however it is, (B)'.
かどうか

Usage Notes for かどうか:

Synonyms for かどうか:

か何か
Or something, Or something like that
Question-phrase + か
Including questions within sentences
〜でも 〜でも
Whether ~ or, Neither ~ or
~ても~なくても
Whether ~ or not
にしても~にしても
Regardless of whether
にしても
Even though, Even if, Even when, Also
にしろ~にしろ
Whether… or
か否か
Whether or not

Example of かどうか

旅行(りょこう)()けるかどうかわからない

I don't know whether or not I can go on a trip.

この()(もの)美味(おい)しいかどうかわからないので()べてみたい

Because I don't know whether or not it is delicious, I want to try eating this food.

サンタさんがいるかどうか(さが)しています

People are searching for whether or not Santa exists.

まだ日本(にほん)()けるかどうか()からない

I don't know whether or not I still can go to Japan.

(いま)動物(どうぶつ)(いぬ)かどうか()からないけど(こわ)かった

I don't know whether or not the animal I just saw was a dog, but it was frightening.

Grammar same lesson

~ていただけませんか

Won't you, Could you please (Humble request)
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れる・られる (Potential)

To be able, Can (Potential)
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筈(はず)だ

Bound to (be), Expected to (be), Should be (able)
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そんなに

So (much), That much, Like that
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が必要(ひつよう)

Need, Necessary
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