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か (or)

or

Noun + か + Noun

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Between nouns, か means "or": コーヒーか紅茶, "coffee or tea". It offers a choice, and like と it only joins nouns and numbers: 二つか三つ, "two or three".

In speech the last item often gets か too: 月曜日か火曜日か, "(either) Monday or Tuesday".

For "or" between two whole questions, Japanese starts the second one with それとも: 行きますか、それとも帰りますか, "are you going, or heading home?"

Don't confuse it with the か that ends a question, or the か in 何か ("something"). All three are the same word doing neighbouring jobs: marking something as open or undecided.

Examples

  • コーヒーか紅茶こうちゃはいかがですか。

    Would you like coffee or tea?

  • 月曜日げつようびか火曜日かようびに行いきます。

    I'll go on Monday or Tuesday.

  • ペンか鉛筆えんぴつで書かいてください。

    Please write in pen or pencil.

  • 毎朝まいあさ、パンかご飯はんを食たべます。

    Every morning I have bread or rice.

  • りんごを二ふたつか三みっつ買かってください。

    Please buy two or three apples.

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