The particles か (ka) and ね (ne) can be used to form questions in Japanese. Let’s learn the usage of these two particles now!
Most of Japanese sentences can be turned into questions by simply adding the particle か (ka) at the end of the sentence. In this case, the particle か (ka) is equivalent to a question mark (?). Read: か (ka) as the conjunction OR
For example, the following statement is a positive sentence.
外は暑いです。
Soto wa atsui desu.
It is hot outside.
The above positive statement will turn into a question with the additional か (ka) at the end of the sentence.
外は暑いですか?
Soto wa atsui desu ka?
Is it hot outside?
Another example.
キムさんは韓国人です。
Kimu-san wa kankokujin desu.
Mr. Kim is a Korean.
キムさんは韓国人ですか?
Kimu-san wa kankokujin desu ka?
Is Mr. Kim a Korean?
Here are a few things to take note:
ね (ne) is a common ending particle in Japanese sentence. It is commonly used to ask for confirmation – just as in n’est-ce pas [French] or isn’t it [English]. Examples:
いい天気ですね。
ii tenki desu ne.
It is a nice weather, isn’t it?
月が綺麗ですね。
Tsuki ga kirei desu ne.
The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?
The appropriate response would be:
そうですね。
Sō desu ne.
That’s right, (isn’t it?)
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