GRAMMAR
〜かい
question marker
Explanation
NOTE
かい is a casual question marker with a masculine tone. It replaces か in informal speech and sounds friendly and direct — often used by older men or in a fatherly manner.
NOTE
Attach かい to the plain form of a verb. Unlike か (which can sound blunt in casual speech), かい keeps the question feeling warm and approachable.
STRUCTURE
V普
かい元気に してるかい？
Genki ni shiteru kai?
Are you doing well?
もう宿題は終わったかい？
Mou shukudai wa owatta kai?
Did you finish your homework already?
朝ごはんは食べたかい？
Asagohan wa tabeta kai?
Did you eat breakfast?
Practice exercises
1
もう宿題は終わったかい？
Did you finish your homework already?
Answer
かい
2
新しい仕事には慣れたかい？
Have you gotten used to your new job?
Answer
かい
3
先生に相談したかい、それとも自分で解決しようとしたかい？
Did you consult your teacher, or did you try to solve it yourself?
Answer
かい
4
犬は元気かい？
Is the dog doing well?
Answer
かい
5
水を飲んだかい？
Did you drink water?
Answer
かい
6
本を読んでいるかい？
Are you reading a book?
Answer
かい
7
元気にしてるかい？
Are you doing well?
Answer
かい
8
朝ごはんは食べたかい？
Did you eat breakfast?
Answer
かい