〜か否か (~ka ina ka) — whether or not ~ (formal)
The stiff, written version of 「かどうか」— in official forms, rules and the news.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- Read your visa renewal papers or the immigration website and you'll meet a sentence like 「更新が認められるか否かは、提出書類をもとに判断されます」— 'whether or not the renewal is approved will be decided based on the documents submitted.'
- With a friend you say 「行くかどうか迷ってる」; but in official notices, company rules, news and reports, it's 「か否か」.
Meaning
「否」= 'no', so 「か否か」= 'yes or no' — the stiff version where the 'not' is written in a kanji.
How to attach
- Attach it straight after the plain form of a verb or い-adjective; after a noun or な-adjective, either directly or with 「である」(本人であるか否か, 有効か否か) — 「だ」is not allowed.
- It is usually followed by 「を／は」and words like 判断する・確認する・検討する・決まる.
- In job ads you'll also often see 「〜か否かを問わず」(whether ~ or not, it doesn't matter).
Versus what you know
N4The meaning is exactly the 「〜かどうか」.
Watch out
The key rule: just like 「かどうか」, it can't be used in a sentence with a question word such as 誰・何・いつ (there you use plain 「か」), and in everyday speech it sounds odd.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
更新が認められるか否かは、提出された書類をもとに判断されます。
こうしんがみとめられるかいなかは、ていしゅつされたしょるいをもとにはんだんされます。
Whether or not the renewal is approved will be decided based on the documents submitted.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 更新が認められる = the renewal is approved (plain form) → 「か否か」= whether it is or not → 「は」 → then the decision: 書類をもとに判断されます = will be decided based on the documents.
日本での就労経験があるか否かを問わず、どなたでも応募できます。
にほんでのしゅうろうけいけんがあるかいなかをとわず、どなたでもおうぼできます。
Anyone can apply, whether or not they have work experience in Japan.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 就労経験がある = have work experience → 「か否か」= whether you have it or not → 「を問わず」= it makes no difference either way → どなたでも応募できます = anyone can apply (a job ad).
新しい制度が本当に有効か否か、専門家の間でも意見が分かれている。
あたらしいせいどがほんとうにゆうこうかいなか、せんもんかのあいだでもいけんがわかれている。
Even experts are divided on whether or not the new system really works.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 有効 = effective (な-adj) → without 「だ」, attach 「か否か」 directly = whether it is or not → then: 意見が分かれている = opinions are divided.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「申請者が本人＿＿か否かを、在留カードで確認します。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: 「だ」can't go after the noun.
N + である + か否か: 本人であるか否か = whether it is really the person. 「だ」「な」「の」don't attach here.
In which sentence is 「か否か」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Who is being spoken to, and in what style?
「か否か」is stiff written language; in casual talk with a friend say 「行くかどうか」.
「誰が次の社長になる＿＿、まだ発表されていない。」— which is correct?
💡 Hint: The sentence has 「誰」in it.
With a question word (誰), use plain 「か」: 誰がなるか. 「か否か」and 「かどうか」are for yes/no, and don't go with 誰.
Your score: /3