N4118/160

かい

Verb (plain) + かいい-adjective + かいな-adjective/Noun + かい

Meanings

  • informal question marker (masculine/slang)
  • rough way to ask a question
  • tag question used by men
  • soften/roughen a question depending on tone

About this pattern

Explanation

かい is a sentence-ending particle used in casual speech, primarily by men. It adds a rough, friendly, or brusque tone to a question. It’s common in everyday conversation and among friends or peers, but can sound old-fashioned or rude in formal settings. It’s often used with short, direct questions and tends to appear with the plain form of verbs or adjectives rather than polite speech.