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Grammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 25

Structure of かい:

Verb + () + かい
[い]Adjective + () + かい
Noun + (なの) + かい
[な]Adjective + (なの) + かい

Details about かい:

The sentence ending particle かい is a grammar structure that is used in Japanese to highlight a question. Despite commonly being thought of as one word, it is actually the combination of (the sentence-ending particle) and い, another sentence-ending particle that is primarily used by men (in a similar way to and ).
かい will usually be used directly after the word/phrase that it is highlighting. In the case of verbs and い-Adjectives, may be inserted before かい. For な-Adjectives and nouns, なの may be inserted directly before it. However, (or なの) are frequently omitted, due to how casual かい is.
  • このドーナッツ()たいかい
    Do you want to eat this donut?
  • このおもちゃ()しいかい
    Do you want this toy?
  • 彼女(かのじょ)綺麗(きれい)なのかい
    Is your girlfriend pretty?
  • (かれ)いい(ひと)なのかい?
    Is he a good person?
When it is not omitted, (or なの) may be shortened to ん (or なん). This is in the same way that and なの would behave in the のです and なのです grammar structures.
  • (まえ)一緒(いっしょ)()たいかい
    Do you also want to come with me?
  • 大学生(だいがくせい)なんかい中学生(ちゅうがくせい)(おも)
    You are a college student? I thought you were a middle schooler.
Although there are some exceptions, かい will almost always be used to ask simple yes/no questions.
  • 勉強(べんきょう)てるかい
    Are you studying?
かい

Usage Notes for かい:

Because かい is very casual, and quite direct, it often sounds like an accusation. Due to this, care should be taken with your tone of voice, so as not to be taken the wrong way.
  • また(かぎ)なくしかい
    You lost your keys again, didn't you?

Synonyms for かい:

Question marking particle

Example of かい

本当(ほんとう)()きたいかい

Do you really want to go?

これだけで十分(じゅうぶん)なのかい

Is just this enough?

その帽子(ぼうし)(かぶ)って()かい

Are you really going to go wearing that hat?

どうしたの?()ずかしいかい

What's wrong? Are you embarrassed?

この番組(ばんぐみ)()たくないかい

You don't want to watch this TV program?

Grammar same lesson

と~と~どちらが

Between ~ which one
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~た所(ところ)だ

Just finished doing, Was just doing
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ながら

While ~ing, During, As
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続(つづ)ける

To continue
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なければいけない

Must do, Have to do
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