どちらか
dochiraka
In Japanese, the phrase "either" is expressed as どちらか (dochiraka).
Meaning: each of two (det)
Which one should you use?
どちらか is used specifically when choosing between two options. If you are choosing between more than two options, you should use いずれか instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
When どちらか is used as a pronoun meaning "either one", it is often followed by particles such as を or が, depending on its specific grammatical role within the sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
dochiraka
Did you know?
- The root word どちら (dochira) is part of a set of 'directional' words. It literally refers to 'the direction of which one', reflecting a cultural tendency to think of choices as directions or paths.
- The word どちら is the polite version of どっち. While どちらか is standard, using どっちか in a professional setting can sound surprisingly blunt or childish.
- The word どちらか is built from どちら, which is the polite way to say 'which' when choosing between two things. It is actually a combination of a question word and the particle か, which signals a doubt or an open-ended choice.
Examples in context
- ２つのうちどちらかを選びなさい。Choose either one or the other.This example shows how to use どちらか to mean "either one".Tatoeba #235552 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #72931 by CK
- 食べるか遊ぶかどちらかにしなさい。Either you eat, or you play, but make up your mind.This sentence uses どちらか to present a choice between two actions.Tatoeba #9938061 by small_snow, translation #10119876 by DJ_Saidez
- 彼は今ローマかパリのどちらかにいる。He is now either in Rome or in Paris.This example demonstrates the use of どちらか when describing a location being one of two places.Tatoeba #107156 by arnab, translation #296530 by CN
- どちらのお茶でも、いいです。Either tea is fine.
- どちらの席でも、構いません。Either seat is fine.
- どちらのほうでもご案内いたします。We will guide you to either option.
- どちらの映画でも、いいよ。Either movie is fine.
- どちらのパーティーにでも参加しようと思ってる。I'm planning to join either party.
- どちらのほうでもいいよ。Either option is fine.
- どの色が好きですか？どの色でもいいです。Which color do you like? Any color is fine.
- アイスクリーム、チョコレートフレーバーとバニラフレーバーどちらが好きですか？両方が好きです。For ice cream, which do you prefer, chocolate flavor or vanilla flavor? I like both.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are deciding which movie to watch.
- 美咲 Misakiこの２つの映画のどちらかを見ない？Kono futatsu no eiga no dochiraka o minai?Why don't we watch either of these two movies?
- 健太 Kentaいいね。どっちが面白そうかな。Ii ne. Dotchi ga omoshirosou kana.Sounds good. I wonder which one looks more interesting.
- 美咲 Misakiどちらか決めてくれたら嬉しいな。Dochiraka kimete kuretara ureshii na.I'd be happy if you decided on either one.
- 健太 Kentaわかった。じゃあ、こっちにしよう。Wakatta. Jaa, kocchi ni shiyou.Got it. Let's go with this one then.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
