Casual suffix : 〜っけ ( = kke)  

kke
「あれ?何を作るんだっけ?」
= Are? Nani wo tsukurun dakke?
= Umm? What was I going to cook now?
 
 

Hi everyone!

Today I will teach you a very common casual suffix,  っけ ( = kke)

っけ (=kke) is a suffix that you use when you are trying to remember something and make sure what it is/was.

You say that when you are talking to yourself as well like me in the picture.

「あれ?何を作るんだっけ?」

= Are? Nani wo tsukurun dakke?

= Umm? What was I going to cook now? (I don’t remember.)

See the difference below?

:u:
When you ask someone where they live for the first time.

Ex. どこに住んでいるの?(casual)

= Doko ni sunde iru no?

= Where do you live (now)?

But if you already asked the same question in past and you can’t remember where they live, you say

Ex. どこに住んでいるんだっけ

= Doko ni sunde irundakke?

(I asked you before but I don’t remember.) Where do you live now again?

If you simply want to ask someone how much something cost,

Ex. これ(は*)いくらだった?

= Kore (wa) ikura datta?

= How much did it cost ? (A simple question.)

But if you already asked someone how much it cost before but you don’t remember the price, you can ask again saying

Ex.これ(は*)いくらだったっけ

= Kore (wa) ikura dattakke?

= How much did it cost , again? (You told me the price before but but I don’t remember.)

Note : * (は)= wa : We often omit particles in conversation.

Although it is a casual suffix, there is a polite form. (But be careful who you use it with.)

Ex. これはおいくらでしたか? (polite)

= Kore wa oikura deshitaka?

= How much did it cost?

:u:

Ex. これはおいくらでしたっけ(casual yet polite.)

= Korewa oikura deshitakke?

= How much did it cost again?

*************
!heartsippai! How to form :

You add it after auxiliary verbs, た ( = ta)/だ ( = da)/ のだ ( = noda)/ んだ ( = nda))/だった ( = datta) /  でした ( = deshita)

1) noun + だ ( = da)+っけ ( = kke)

or

noun + だった ( = datta)+っけ ( = kke)

(The politer form : noun + でした ( = deshita) +っけ ( = kke) )

Note : だったけ ( = dattakke) is considered to be a past tense. Though we sometimes use it to confirm  the future events.

Ex.1 – a )  試験は明日だっけ

= Shiken wa ashita dakke?

= Is the exam tomorrow?

or

Ex. 1-b ) 試験は明日だったっけ

= Shiken wa ashita dattakke? (I heard that before but I am not sure.)

They both mean the same but だった(=dattakke) stresses the fact that you heard the information in past more.

:u: (casual but politer )

Ex.1-c) 試験は明日でしたっけ

= Shiken wa ashita deshitakke?

Ex. 2-a) マギーは犬だっけ

= Maggie wa inu dakke?

= Maggie is a dog, right?

:u: (casual but politer )

Ex. 2-b) マギーは犬でしたっけ?

= Maggie wa nu deshitakke?

Ex. 3-a) 次は私だっけ?  (female speech)

= Tsugi wa watashidakke?
= Is it my turn now?

:u:(casual but politer )

Ex. 3-b) 次は私でしたっけ

= Tsugi wa watashi deshitakke?

Ex. 4-a) あの人、何て名前だっけ

= Anohito nante namae dakke?

= What is/was that person’s (his/her) name?

:u: (casual but politer )

Ex. 4-b) あの人のお名前は何でしたっけ

= Anohito no onamae wa nan deshitakke?

2) Interrogative words + だ ( = da) + っけ ( = kke)

or + だった ( = datta)+っけ  ( = kke)

(The politer form : interrogative word+ でした ( = deshita)+っけ  ( = kke))

Ex. 何だっけ

= Nan dakke?

= What was it? (I don’t remember.)

:u: (casual but politer )

何でしたっけ

= Nan deshitakke?

Ex. 誰だっけ

= Dare dakke?

= Who is/was it, again? (Who was it? I don’t remember.)

:u: (casual but politer )

どなたでしたっけ

= Donata deshitakke?

:u: (politer)

どちら様でしたっけ

=Dochira sama deshitakke?

Ex. 何時だっけ

= Nanji dakke?

= What time is/was it, again?

:u:(casual but politer )

何時でしたっけ

= Nanji deshitakke?

Ex. どこだっけ

= Doko dakke?

= Where is/was it again?

:u: (casual but politer )

どちらでしたっけ

=Dochira deshitakke?

3) verb + っけ(=kke)

or verb + だった ( = datta) + っけ ( = kke)

3-1) verb present :

verb present plain form + のだ  ( = noda) / んだ  ( = nda)+っけ  ( = kke) 

or のだった  ( = nodatta) / だった ( = ndatta) + っけ ( = kke)

(The politer form : verb present plain form + のでした  ( = nodeshita) or んでした ( = ndeshita)+っけ ( = kke))

Note:  If you want to know more about the function of  ん ( = n)  go check this lesson.

:rrrr: When and how to use ん = n (**のです→**んです)

Ex. これどうやって食べるんだっけ

= Kore douyatte taberun dakke?

= I forgot. How should I eat this?

Note : Again, we sometimes use (ん)だったっけ ( = (n) dattakke) to emphasize the fact you knew (heard ) the information or experienced it before.

:u:

Ex. これどうやって食べるんだったっけ

= Kore douyatte taberun dattakke?

= How should I eat this again?  (You told me before, I have had it before but I forgot..)

:u: (casual but politer )

食べるのでしたっけ

= Taberu no deshitakke?

or

食べるんでしたっけ

= Taberundeshitakke?

Ex. 会議で何を話すんだっけ

= Kaigi de nani wo hanasun dakke?

= What do I suppose to talk about in the meeting again?

:u:  (casual but politer )

話すのでしたっけ

= Hanasu no deshitakke?

or

話すんでしたっけ

= Hanasun deshitakke?

3-2) present progressive plain form + の ( = no) / ん ( = n)/+ ( = da) + っけ  ( = kke) 

or verb + の ( = no) /ん ( = n)+ だった ( = datta) + っけ( = kke)

Ex. 今、何をやっているんだっけ

= Ima nani wo yatte irun dakke?

= What are you doing now again?

3-3) past tense 

verb past plain form + っけ

or  + の ( = no) /( = n)+ だった ( = datta) + っけ ( = kke)

Ex. ここに前、来たっけ

= Koko ni mae kitakke?

= Did I (we) come here before?

or

Ex. ここに前、来たんだっけ

= Koko ni mae kitan dakke?

:u: (casual but politer )

Ex. こちらに前来ましたっけ?

= Kochira ni mae kimashitakke?

3-4) present perfect : 

*verb past plain form + っけ ( = kke)

*verb past plain formんだ  ( = nda) + っけ ( = kke)

*verb past plain form + んだった  ( = ndatta) +っけ ( = kke)

(The politer form : ~ ました ( = mashita) + っけ ( = kke)

or

〜ことがあった ( = kotoga atta)+っけ  ( = kke)

(The politer form : ~ことがありました ( = kotoga arimashita)+っけ  ( = kke))

Ex. ここに前、来たことあったっけ

= Koko ni mae kita koto attakke?

= Have we ever been here before?

:u: (casual but politer )

こちらに以前、来たことはありましたっけ

= Kochira ni izen kita koto wa arimashitakke?

3-5) past progressive : 

verb past progressive  plain form +んだ ( = nda)+っけ ( = kke)

or   verb + ( ん = n)だった ( = datta) + っけ ( = kke)

(politer)   past progressive plain form の  ( = no)  (or =n) でした  ( = ndeshita) +っけ ( = kke)

Ex. 何を話していたんだっけ

= Nani wo hanashite itan dakke?

= What were we talking about now? ? What was I talking about now? (I forgot)

or

Ex. 何を話していたんだったっけ

= Naniwo hanashite itan dattakke?

:u: (casual but politer )

Ex. 何を話していたんでしたっけ

= Nani wo hanashite itan deshitakke?

Ex. 前、トヨタで働いていたんだっけ

= Mae Toyota de hataraite itan dakke?

= Were you working at Toyota before (You used to work at Toyota), right?
or

Ex. 前、トヨタで働いていたんだったっけ

 = Mae Toyota de hataraite itan dattakke?

:u: (casual but politer )

Ex.  前、トヨタで働いていたんでしたっけ

= Mae Toyota de hataraite itan deshitakke?

:u:  (politer)

Ex. 以前はトヨタでお仕事されていたんでしたっけ

= Izen wa Toyota de oshigoto sarete itan deshitakke?

Ex. あれ?今日はクラスがないって言わなかったっけ

= Are? Kyou wa kurasu ga naitte iwanakattakke?

= What? Didn’t I tell you we didn’t have a class today?

:u: (casual but politer )

Ex. 今日はクラスがないって言いませんでしたっけ

= Kyou wa kurasu ga naitte iimasen deshitakke?

5) adjective + っけ ( = kke)

5-1) i-adjective present tense :

i-adjective +のだ ( = noda) / んだ ( = nda)+っけ  ( = kke)

or

i-adjective paste tenseっけ  ( = kke)

or のだった ( = nodatta) / んだった(=ndatta) + っけ ( = kke)

(the politer form : i-adjective +んでした ( = ndeshita)+っけ ( = kke)

Ex. これでいいんだっけ

= Kore de iin dakke?

= Is this (way) OK, you think?

:u:    (casual but politer )

いいんでしたっけ

= iin deshitakke?

or

Ex.これでよかったっけ

= Kore de yokattakke?

:u:   (casual but politer )

よかったんでしたっけ

= yokattan deshitakke?

5-2) i-adjectives past tense:

i-adjective past tense っけ ( = kke)

i-adjective past tense + んだ ( = nda)+ っけ ( = kke)?

(the polite forms) :

i-adjective past tense + でした( = deshita) + っけ ( = kke)

i-adjective past tense + んでした( = ndeshita) + っけ ( = kke)

Ex. 彼は背が高かったっけ

= Kare wa se ga takakattakke?

= Was he tall? (I forgot)

:u:  (casual but politer )

彼は背が高かったでしたっけ

= Kare wa se ga takakatta deshitakke?

5-3) na-adjective present tense :

na-adjecitve + だ ( = da)+っけ ( = kke)

or だった ( = datta) + っけ ( = kke)

(politer) na-adjecitve + でした ( = deshita)+っけ ( = kke)

Ex. あの店は静かだっけ

=Ano mise wa shizuka dakke?

= Is that place (shop, restaurant, bar, coffee shop) quiet ? (I don’t remember well.)

  :u: (casual but politer ) 

そこは静かでしたっけ

= Soko wa shizuka deshitakke?

Ex. ケンちゃんはこのおやつ好きだっけ

= Kenchan wa kono oyatsu sukidakke?

= Did (Does) Ken-chan like this snack or not?

or

ケンちゃんはこのおやつ好きだったっけ

= Kenchan wa kono oyatsu suki dattakke?

:u: (casual but politer )

Ex.  ケンちゃんはこのおやつお好きでしたっけ

= Kenchan wa  kono oyatsu osukideshitakke?

5-4) na-adjective past tense : 

past tense : + だったっけ? = dattakke?

(politer) na-adjecitve + でしたっけ

Ex.マギー先生は前からこんなにきれいだったっけ

= Maggie sensei wa mae kara konnani kirei dattakke?

= Was Maggie Sensei this beautiful before?

 :u: (casual but politer )

Ex.マギー先生は前からこんなにきれいでしたっけ

= Maggie Sensei wa mae kara konnani kirei deshitakke?

In case you wonder the same thing…

:u:

はい、前からこんなにきれいでした。

= Hai, mae kara konnani kirei deshita.

= Yes, I have been this beautiful.

でも、今は前よりもっと美しくなったかもしれません。 :)

= Demo ima wa mae yori motto utsukushiku natta kamo shiremasen.

= But I could  be even more beautiful now than before.

6) Another way to use っけ ( = kke)

っけ  ( = kke) is not always a question.

You use it when you just remembered something and talking to yourself . I just remember something…

Ex. ああ、日本語がわからない時は、マギー先生がいたっけ

= As, nihongo ga wakaranai toki wa Maggie sensei ga itakke.

= Oh, I just remembered we can count on Maggie Sensei  when don’t understand Japanese language.

Ex. そうそう、まだ卵が冷蔵庫にあったっけ

= Sousou mada tamago ga reizouko ni attakke.

= Oh, I just remembered we still have some eggs in the fridge.

You also use っけ ( = kke) when  you are remembering past events feeling nostalgic or sentimental.

Ex. 昔はよく海に家族でいったっけ

= Mukashi wa yoku umi ni kazoku de ittakke.

= I used to go to the beach with my family.  (Good old days..)

Ex. そういうこともあったっけ(looking back the past.)

= Souiu kotomo attakke.

= That (kind of thing) happened as well. / I have been through that as well. (Now I remember.)

Ex. 子供の頃、毎週日曜日になるとお父さんと野球をしたっけなあ。

= Kodomo no koro maishuu nichiyoubi ni naruto otousan to yakyuu wo shitakkenaa.

= I used to play baseball with my dad on Sundays when I was a child.. (Remembering the past feeling sentimental.)

*******

maggie-senseiマギー先生より= Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei

Do you know how to use「っけ」now?

ところで今日、朝ご飯、食べたっけ

=Tokoro de kyou asagohan tabetakke?

=BTW Did I have breakfast today??? I don’t remember…

***

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23 Comments

  1. Yayyy! I’m so glad I found out you did a lesson on this because miitomo uses this suffix and it confused me haha. Thank you so much!!!!! boucingheart!

  2. こんにちは、マギー先生!
    この文に「っけ」の意味がわからないんだけど、説明くれない?
    混じりっけナシの (With nothing else mixed in)

    1. @Marianne

      こんにちは、Marianne,
      混じりっけ is a casual way to say 混じり気/ 混じりけ = majirike
      It means “pure (nothing mixed in)”

  3. ありがとう マギー先生。
    勉強になりました。

    いつも時間をさいて、教えてくれてありがとう。

  4. “そういうこともあったっけ” is definitely my favorite out of these examples. I had forgotten that you could use it with polite forms, maybe because I neglected to use them… even with my teachers, haha.

    1. @Ragnar

      Thank you for your comment, Ragnar!
      Yes, there is a polite form of っけ but as I wrote in the lesson, I wouldn’t use it in a very formal situation. :)

  5. おはようございます、マギー先生!
    はい、今日、朝ご飯を食べたっけ。


    これでいいのかな~ 照

    マギー先生のレッソンはいつも楽しいですよ!ありがとうございます!

    1. @ninipana

      おはよう!ninipana!!

      はい、今日、朝ご飯を食べたっけ。
      →Did you mean to say “Yes, I had breakfast”? Then はい、今日、朝ご飯を食べました。
      We use ”っけ” when we are not sure whether we did something or not :)
      今日、朝ご飯を食べたっけ?

  6. すごく役に立ったレーズン!
    時々聞いたけど意味分からなかった。
    ありがとうございました先生。

    この例文「彼は背が高かったでしたっけ?」
    ダブルPASTはいつ使えますか?

    阿武

    1. @阿武

      おはよう!阿武!
      「彼は背が高かったでしたっけ?」
      ダブルPASTはいつ使えますか?

      以前に会ったことがある人、または見たことがある人のことを思い出そうとしている時に使いますよ。
      Ex. マギーは可愛かったっけ?
      Ex. マギーは可愛かったでしたっけ?

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