〜かな

〜かな goes at the end of a plain-form sentence to express wondering or musing — as if talking to yourself: 明日は晴れるかな (I wonder if it'll be sunny tomorrow). When said to someone else, it softens the question so the listener doesn't feel pressed to answer.

The pattern 〜ないかな expresses a wish: バス、早く来ないかな (I wish the bus would hurry up and come) — literally "I wonder if it won't…", but in effect "I hope it will…".

かな is only for casual conversation or muttering to yourself. To wonder politely in front of others, use 〜でしょうか. Unlike 〜かもしれない (a judgment: "probably so"), 〜かな is an open question in the speaker's mind.

Examples

• 明日(あした)は晴(は)れるかな。

  I wonder if it will be sunny tomorrow.

• この答(こた)えでいいのかな。

  I wonder if this answer is really right.

• バス、早(はや)く来(こ)ないかな。

  I wish the bus would hurry up and come.

Related patterns

• 〜かもしれない
• 〜だろう
• 普通体の会話