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〜かな・〜かしら

I wonder

Plain form + かな (feminine, older: かしら)

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かな at the end of a sentence means "I wonder": 明日、雨が降るかな, "I wonder if it'll rain tomorrow". It's か (question) + な (musing), often said half to yourself.

It follows plain forms directly, including nouns (雨かな) without だ.

With the volitional, it's thinking aloud about what to do: 何を着て行こうかな, "hmm, what shall I wear?"

With a negative, it's a wish: 誰か手伝ってくれないかな, "I wish someone would help".

かしら means the same and is heard in older and more feminine speech. The polite equivalent is でしょうか.

Register: Casual, often said to yourself. Politely: でしょうか.

Examples

  • 明日あした、雨あめが降ふるかな。

    I wonder if it'll rain tomorrow.

  • 田中たなかさん、もう着ついたかな。

    I wonder if Tanaka's arrived yet.

  • これ、おいしいかな？

    Is this any good, I wonder?

  • 何なにを着きて行いこうかな。

    Hmm, what shall I wear?

  • 誰だれか手伝てつだってくれないかな。

    I wish someone would help me.

  • 明日あしたは晴はれるかしら。

    I wonder if it'll be sunny tomorrow.

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