かしら

Japanese

Etymology 1

Japanese question particle か (​ka) + しら (shira), the irrealis form of verb 知る (shiru, “to know”), used as an abbreviation of negative form 知らない (shiranai, “don't know”). Literally means “don't know whether...”

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ka̠ ɕiɾa̠]

Particle

かしら • (ka shira) 

1. (women's speech) I wonder.

   彼(かれ)は怪(あや)しい人(ひと)かしら。

   Kare wa ayashii hito ka shira.

   I wonder if he's a suspicious person.

Usage notes

• かしら (ka shira) is similar to かな (​ka na), but is used more by women than by men. This particle always comes at the end.

Etymology 2

Kanji reading.

Noun

かしら • (kashira) 

1. 頭: a head; a boss, a chief, a leader; the top, the first, the initial