60300
Can anyone explain to me the function of のか in this sentence? Is it "I suppose
that..." or similar?

> 彼は、体調が悪い **のか** 、顔色があまり良くない。
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-22T16:20:16.737
60298
2019-08-01T01:50:02.133
2019-08-01T01:50:02.133
9831
30714
question
grammar
How to use ~のか accurately? 「体調が悪いのか、顔色があまり良くない。」
> 「彼{かれ}は、体調{たいちょう}が悪{わる}い **のか** 、顔色{かおいろ}があまり良{よ}くない。」

When used mid-sentence like that, 「のか」 _**questions**_ the preceding statement
to some extent. For translation purposes, one might use:

> " _ **Not sure whether**_ [preceding statement] _**is the case, but
> ~~~~~**_."
>
> " _ **Not sure if it is because**_ [preceding statement], _**but ~~~~~**_."

In the sentence in question, 「体調が悪い」 is only a speculation whereas
「顔色があまり良くない」 is a fact. That is why the speaker/writer uses 「のか」 to express
the _**possibility**_ of the preceding statement not being totally correct.

In this sentence, 「のか」 can be replaced by 「からなのか」 or 「せいなのか」 without changing
the meaning.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-22T17:10:26.840
60300
2019-02-25T01:22:45.833
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
-1
60298
answer