Question word + ～か
Put an open question inside a sentence
You'll be able to embed questions about who, what, where, when, why, or how in a larger statement.
芽衣は鍵がどこにあるか分かりません。
mei wa kagi ga doko ni aru ka wakarimasen.
What do you think this sentence means?
Mei does not know where the key is.
Embed a question-word clause
A question-word clause followed by か can function as the content of knowing, asking, or deciding. It retains the missing information, such as where or when.
何時に出発するか決めましょう。
nanji ni shuppatsu suru ka kimemashou.
Let’s decide what time to leave.
Form and use Question word + ～か
Omit question-final ですか inside the clause. Nouns and な-adjectives normally omit だ. Unlike かどうか, the issue is not simply yes or no.
何時に出発するか決めましょう。
nanji ni shuppatsu suru ka kimemashou.
Let’s decide what time to leave.
誰が来るか知っています。
dare ga kuru ka shitte imasu.
I know who is coming.
すみません、駅はどこにあるか教えてください。
sumimasen, eki wa doko ni aru ka oshiete kudasai.
Excuse me, could you tell me where the station is?
会議が何時に始まるか知っていますか。
kaigi ga nanji ni hajimaru ka shitte imasu ka.
Do you know what time the meeting starts?
母の誕生日に何をあげるか、まだ決めていません。
haha no tanjoubi ni nani o ageru ka, mada kimete imasen.
I haven't decided yet what to give my mother for her birthday.
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