Japanese word

どちらか

Pronunciation

Romajidochiraka

Meaning

  • nounone of the two

Example

二つのえんぴつのどちらかを使います。futa tsu no e n pi tsu no do chi ra ka o tsuka i ma su

I use one of the two pencils.

Illustration for どちらか (one of the two)

More examples

二つの箱のどちらかを開けてください。futa tsu no bako no do chi ra ka o a ke te ku da sa i

Please open one of the two boxes.

Core concept

Marks one choice within a pair without identifying which member it is.

Common phrases

  • どちらかを選ぶdo chi ra ka o era bu

    choose one

Similar words

片方katahō: One of two people or things that make up a pair.
どれかdoreka: One unspecified item from a group of three or more possibilities.

Definition in Japanese

二つあるもののうち一方。futa tsu a ru mo no no u chi ip pō

Word origin

どちらか (dochiraka) consists of どちら (dochira, "which of two") and the particle か (ka, "an indefinite choice marker"); the added か changes a question-like choice into an unspecified one of two.

Usage tips

  • The expression どちらか (dochira ka, "one of two") is used when exactly two options are being considered, while どれか (dore ka, "one of several") fits an unspecified larger set.

Other meanings

  • eithernoun

Word lists with this word