Or something similar with 〜か何か

Grammar: Choice and Selection » 〜か何か

When a verb or noun is followed by か (making it into a question) and 何(なに)か (meaning “something”), the resulting meaning is “something similar to ~” that verb or noun. It’s like in English saying “~ or something”.

May also be pronounced as なんか.

Examples

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A radio or something with 〜か何か

A news broadcast interrupts the baseball game Tetsuhiro is watching over at his neighbor’s beach house.

哲浩(てつひろ):

「あのー…　ラジオか何(なに)かありませんか？」

“Um... Do you have a radio or something?”

綾子(あやこ):

「あ、ありますけど…」

“Ah, there is...”

コナン:

「でもこの試合(しあい)ラジオじゃやってないみたいだよ…」

“But it seems this game isn't being broadcast on the radio.”

Something like a general store with 〜か何か

Having just settled in at her relative’s house where she will be living, Makoto has a meal with her cousins.

真琴(まこと):

「そーだ。近(ちか)くに雑貨屋(ざっかや)さんか何(なに)かありますかね？」

“Oh yeah, is there a general store or something nearby?”

圭(けい):

「ん？　雑貨屋(ざっかや)？」

“Hm? A general store?”