Welcome to Day 41 of our 100-day JLPT N5 challenge to learn Japanese!
Asking questions is your key to connecting with others—whether you’re asking for directions in Tokyo or clarifying a point at work.
For JLPT N5 prep, mastering か sharpens your grammar and listening skills, setting you up for exam success.
Main Lesson: Understanding か Step-by-Step
Let’s explore か (ka), pronounced “kah” in romaji (like “car” without the “r,” short and sharp).
This particle is your gateway to forming yes-or-no questions in Japanese. It’s simple, versatile, and perfect for adult learners building a foundation.
Grammar Rules
Function:
Add か at the end of a statement to make it a question.
Forms:
Works with polite forms (です or ます) for neutrality or respect, or plain forms for casual contexts (though N5 focuses on polite).
Punctuation:
Japanese people often use ”。” instead of “?” in writing—rely on か to signal a question.
Tone: Maintains a neutral or polite tone; avoid rising intonation alone (common in English).
Vocabulary List
Here’s a beginner-friendly list to practice with, tailored for JLPT N5 prep:
| Words | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| はる | haru | Spring |
| なつ | natsu | Summar |
| あき | aki | Autumn; fall |
| ふゆ | fuyu | Winter |
| ゆき | yuki | snow |
| あめ | ame | rain |
| くもり | kumori | cloudiness; cloudy weather |
| はれ | hare | clear weather; fine weather |
| てんき | tenki | Weather |
Examples
Let’s transform statements into questions with か:
- あなた は がくせい です。 (Anata wa gakusei desu.) – You are a student.
- あなた は がくせい ですか？ (Anata wa gakusei desu ka.) – Are you a student?
- きょう は はれ です。 (Kyou wa hare desu.) – Today is sunny.
- きょう は はれ ですか？ (Kyou wa hare desu ka.) – Is today sunny?
- わたし は ふゆ が すき です。 (Watshi wa fuyu ga suki desu.) – I like winter.
- あなた は ふゆ が すき ですか？ (Anata wa fuyu ga suki desu ka.) – Do you like winter?
When asking someone if they feel the same after sharing your own experience/opinion, you can use “も” (mo), which we learned on Day 39, to form a question.
わたし は あめ が すき です。 (Watashi wa ame ga suki desu.) – I like rain.
あなた も (あめ が) すき ですか？ (Anata mo (ame ga) suki desuka.) – Do you like (rain) too?
※When continuing the conversation, you can omit the repeated “rain” since it’s already understood.
Practice Section: Multiple-Choice Quiz
Test your か mastery with this JLPT N5-style quiz. Choose the best answer for each of six questions.
Question 1: What does あなた は いぬ が すき ですか。 (Anata wa inu ga suki desu ka.) mean?
Question 2: Which is the correct question with か?
Question 3: Translate “Do you like Summar?” into Japanese.
Question 4: What does きょう の てんき は あめ です。 mean?
Question 5: Complete: あなた は ほん を よみ ____。 (Anata wa hon o yomi ____.) – Do you read books?
Question 6: Complete: ____ は せんせい ____。 (____ wa sensei ____.) – Please write Japanese.
Conclusion: Key Takeaways and Next Steps
Today, we mastered か, the particle that turns statements into questions, like あなた は がくせい ですか (Are you a student?). With grammar rules, a vocab list, examples, and a quiz, you’ve gained a crucial skill for learn Japanese for beginners.
It’s your tool for engaging conversations and a strong N5 grammar point. Consistency is your strength—spend a few minutes daily reviewing!
Loving this challenge? Subscribe to our newsletter for daily JLPT N5 tips, or share with your study group.
