JLPT N1 Grammar

〜か〜まいか (ka... mai ka)

〜か〜まいか (ka... mai ka)
“Whether to... or not; to do or not to do”

This expression is used to describe a state of hesitation or indecision between two opposing actions. It captures the internal conflict of a speaker (or a subject) who is wavering between performing an action and refraining from it.

  • Formality: Neutral to Formal. While it appears in literature, it is very common in professional business contexts to describe strategic hesitation or cautious decision-making.
  • Context: Used in both spoken and written Japanese. In a business setting, it is frequently used in reports or meetings to explain the deliberation process behind a difficult choice (e.g., "We were debating whether to withdraw from the market or not").
  • Nuance: It suggests a "50/50" split in the mind. It often appears with verbs of thinking or feeling, such as 悩む (nayamu - to be worried/conflicted), 迷う (mayou - to be lost/undecided), or 考えている (kangaete iru - to be thinking). It conveys a sense of psychological weight or a dilemma.

Format

  • Verb (Volitional Form) + か + Verb (Dictionary Form) + まいか
  • Group 1 (U-Verbs): Dictionary form + まい (e.g., 書くまい).
    本当のことを言おうか言うまいか、迷っている。I am wondering whether to tell the truth or not.
  • Group 2 (Ru-Verbs): Stem OR Dictionary form + まい
    新規事業に投資しようかするまいか（またはすまいか）、判断に苦しんでいる。I am struggling to judge whether or not to invest in the new business.
  • Irregular verbs: する -> するまい / すまい / しまい; くる -> くるまい / こまい
    台風が近づいているが、明日出社しようかくるまいか（またはこまいか）悩ましい。A typhoon is approaching, and it's a dilemma whether to come into the office tomorrow or not.

Example sentences

  • 、、。
    Due to the impact of the weak yen, a cautious judgment is required on whether or not to scale down overseas bases.
  • 、、。
    Because we are over budget, we are currently consulting with the development team on whether or not to implement additional features.
  • 、、。
    I have been undecided for a long time about whether or not to go get an MBA for my career advancement.
  • 、。
    As a manager, I have a conflict over whether or not to strictly point out a subordinate's mistake.
  • 、、。
    It is distressing whether to disclose negative information to investors right now or not.
  • 、。
    I am thinking about whether or not to start a side job while checking the employment regulations.
  • 、。
    I want to wait for the legal department's opinion on whether or not to sign the contract under these conditions.
  • 、。
    I will decide whether or not to go to the business dinner after considering my physical condition.
  • 、。
    I am re-analyzing marketing data to decide whether or not to launch the new service.
  • 、。
    It is a point of hesitation whether to speak the reason honestly or not.

Similar Grammar

〜ようか〜まいか (yō ka... mai ka)

“Whether to... or not”
会社を辞めようか辞めるまいか、悩んでいる。I am worried about whether to quit the company or not.

Difference:

  • This is the formal grammar we are studying.
  • It emphasizes internal conflict and the gravity of the decision.

〜ようか〜るか (yō ka... ru ka)

“Whether to [A] or [B] (Casual/Standard)”
会社に行こうか行くか、まだ決めていない。I haven't decided whether to go to the office or [just stay home/not go].

Difference:

  • This is the standard, everyday way to express "A or B."
  • It lacks the literary weight and the specific nuance of "intentional avoidance" or "strong hesitation" that まい provides.

〜つ〜持たれつ (tsu... motaretsu)

“Give and take; mutually [doing]”
弊社と彼らは、持ちつ持たれつの関係だ。Our company and theirs are in a "give and take" (mutually supportive) relationship.

Difference:

  • While it follows a similar repetitive structure, it describes a mutual state between two parties rather than a psychological hesitation within one person.

〜であれ〜であれ (de are... de are)

“Whether it be [A] or [B]”
社長であれ平社員であれ、コンプライアンスは守るべきだ。Whether one is the CEO or a rank-and-file employee, they must follow compliance.

Difference:

  • Used to indicate that the outcome/rule is the same regardless of which category applies, rather than focusing on a speaker's indecision.

〜なり〜なり (nari... nari)

“Either [A] or [B] (as suggestions/options)”
不明点があれば、メールなりチャットなりで連絡してください。If there are any unclear points, please contact me via email or chat (or whatever suits you).

Difference:

  • Used to offer choices or suggestions to someone else.
  • It is outward-facing, whereas 〜か〜まいか is inward-facing (internal conflict).

〜というか〜というか (to iu ka... to iu ka)

“Should I call it [A] or [B] / Is it [A] or [B]”
今回の施策は、大胆というか無謀というか…。This measure is... I don't know if I should call it bold or just reckless.

Difference:

  • Used when the speaker is searching for the most accurate word to describe a situation, rather than deciding on an action to take.

JLPT Practice Questions

Now let’s test your understanding.

Q1. にし、を（　　　）、のに。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q2. ので、を（　　　）、に的なをだ。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q3. を（　　　）、にをいる。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q4. なに（　　　）、としてしている。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q5. にを（　　　）、がのはだ。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q6. にを（　　　）、としてのにいる。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q7. が中、をし（　　　）、のが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q8. を（　　　）、のしたをする。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q9. をに（　　　）、のをしている。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q10. を（　　　）、をにを。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q11. のを（　　　）、のが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q12. を（　　　）、のをしている。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q13. のを（　　　）、のが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q14. がしているが、のに（　　　）、が。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q15. を（　　　）、はした。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Continue Your Journey to Native-Level Fluency

Great work finishing this session! Achieving N1-level precision is about layering these subtle distinctions until they become second nature in your professional life.

To maintain your momentum and eliminate any remaining blind spots, head back to our JLPT N1 Grammar List. Use it to systematically check off each point and refine your ability to navigate complex Japanese environments with the confidence of a native speaker.

JLPT N1 Grammar List

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