How to tell them apart
Both kana and kashira express wondering about the unknown, as in ashita hareru kana and ashita hareru kashira. Kashira is feminine sounding speech, while kana is used by any speaker. Unlike kashira, kana also expresses soft hope or personal intention, as in umaku iku kana and mou kaerou kana, uses that kashira cannot replace.
- かな Use kana to express wondering, soft hope, or personal intention such as volitional plus kana, regardless of speaker gender.
- かしら Use kashira to express wondering in feminine sounding speech.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| かな kana | expresses wondering about something; also a soft hope | N3 |
| かしら kashira | expresses wondering; used in women's language | N4 |
かな kana
expresses wondering about something; also a soft hope
かな at the end of a sentence shows the speaker is wondering to themselves, like I wonder if or I wonder what, and with a negative form such as ないかな it can sound like a soft hope or gentle request. It follows a plain form clause, including verbs like 行くかな or 行ったかな, i-adjectives like 暑いかな, and nouns or na-adjectives like 元気かな. It is casual and inward, so it is not used to ask someone a direct question.
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どっちに行けばいいのかな？
Which way should I go?
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明日もまだ暑いかな？
Will it still be hot tomorrow?
かしら kashira
expresses wondering; used in women's language
かしら expresses the speaker's wondering or uncertainty, like I wonder if, and is often used to make a request or suggestion sound softer and more polite. It attaches to the plain form of verbs and i-adjectives, as in 行けるかしら or 高いかしら, and to nouns and na-adjectives as かしら or なのかしら, as in 学生かしら or 静かなのかしら. It is strongly associated with feminine speech, though men may use it for a soft effect, and だかしら should be avoided as ungrammatical.
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サインしてもらえるかしら。
Will you sign it for me?
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着てみてもいいかしら？
May I try it on?
かな and かしら are JLPT N4–N3 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.