Or something similar with 〜か何か
Grammar: Choice and Selection » 〜か何か
〜か何か gives one loose example from a broader category. It means “or something” or “or something like that”. Speakers also pronounce it 〜か何か.
This grammar appends directly to a noun.
Usage Notes
〜か何か is used when the exact item does not matter, the speaker is guessing, or the speaker wants to avoid naming one thing too sharply. It leaves the category open, as if saying “something like Ⓐ, or maybe something else in that area.”
Examples
A junior or something with 〜か何か
Grammar Explanation: Or something similar with 〜か何か
On a nighttime walk, Hamaguchi sees Hokujou casually dressed and wearing glasses. She’s fine with Hamaguchi seeing her like this, as they’ve known each other for a long time, but she tells him not to tell their classmates. At school the next morning…
- 高尾:
- 「おい 昨日浜口が、メガネ女子と夜に会ってたらしいぞ！」
- “Hey, I heard Hamaguchi was hanging out with a girl in glasses last night!”
- 生徒Ａ:
- 「見た目子供っぽかったって聞いたぞ。」
- “I heard she looked kind of childish.”
- 生徒Ｂ:
- 「後輩か何かか、浜口。」
- “Is she a junior or something, Hamaguchi?”
- 浜口:
- 「い… いやー…」
- “Uh... well...”
A radio or something with 〜か何か
Grammar Explanation: Or something similar with 〜か何か
A news broadcast interrupts the baseball game Tetsuhiro is watching over at his neighbor’s beach house.
- 哲浩:
- 「あのー… ラジオか何かありませんか？」
- “Um... Do you have a radio or something?”
- 綾子:
- 「あ、ありますけど…」
- “Ah, there is...”
- コナン:
- 「でもこの試合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
Grammar Explanation: Or something similar 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:
- 「そーだ。近くに雑貨屋さんか何かありますかね？」
- “Oh yeah, is there a general store or something nearby?”
- 圭:
- 「ん？ 雑貨屋？」
- “Hm? A general store?”