Meaning
〜かどうか is used when you cannot confirm whether something is true or false. It expresses doubt or uncertainty about a situation. This pattern is typically paired with verbs such as 知る (to know), わかる (to understand), or 言う (to say) to indicate that you are unsure about something and want to express or ask about that uncertainty.
Formation
| Part of speech | Formation |
|---|---|
| 動詞普通形 | かどうか |
| い形容詞 | かどうか |
| な形容詞 | かどうか |
| 名詞 | かどうか |
Examples
-
この料理がおいしいかどうかわかりません。
I don't know whether this dish tastes good or not. -
彼が学生かどうか知りません。
I don't know whether he is a student or not. -
飲み会に参加するかどうか教えてください。
Please tell me whether you will participate in the drinking party or not. -
高橋さんが元気かどうか知りたいです。
I want to know whether Mr. Takahashi is in good health or not.
Summary
- Use かどうか to express uncertainty or doubt about whether something is true
- Common verb partners include 知る, わかる, 言う, and 聞く
- Attach かどうか directly to the plain form of verbs, い-adjectives, な-adjectives, or nouns