in Blog

All About Japanese Particles: かしら (kashira)

[Serie: All About Japanese Particles]

Note: The usages of kashira are essentially the same as those of ka na, except that they are mostly employed by women.

1. Indicates uncertainly: “I wonder.”

社長さん、今日何時に会社へいらっしゃいますかしら
Shachō-san, kyō nanji ni kaisha e irasshaimasu kashira.
I wonder what time the president will come to the office today.

この機械の使い方、ご存じでいらっしゃいますかしら
Kono kikai no tsukaikata, gozonji de irasshaimasu kashira.
I wonder if you’re acquainted with how this machine is run.

2. Indicates a question to oneself: “I wonder.”

もう帰ってもいいのかしら
Mō kaette mo ii kashira.
I wonder if it’s all right to leave now [if I can leave now].

こんなすてきなプレゼントをもらって、いいのかしら
Konna suteki na purezento o moratte, ii no kashira.
I wonder if I should accept such a lovely present. /Oh, you shouldn’t have. /Oh, what a lovely present! I don’t deserve it.

3. Indicates a hope or muted request: “I wonder.”

今晩私の宿題を手伝ってくれるかしら
Komban watashi no shukudai o tetsudatte kureru kashira.
I wonder if you would help me with my homework tonight. /Do you think you could help me with my homework tonight?

コンピューターの使い方、教えていただけるかしら
Konpyūtā no tsukaikata, oshiete itadakeru kashira.
I wonder if you could teach me how to operate the computer./ Could you possibly teach me how to operate the computer?

– Source: All about particles – A handbook of Japanese function words


Introduction

Write a Comment

Comment