sensushiClassroom

N2 — outside your level filter

（よ）うか〜まいか

（よ）うか〜まいかyou ka mai kaN2literary

whether to do it or not — weighing an act against holding back

参加さんかしようかしまいか、締しめ切きりの日ひまで迷まよっていた。

sanka shiyou ka shimai ka, shimekiri no hi made mayotte ita.

I went back and forth on whether to take part, right up to the deadline. neutral

声こえをかけようかかけまいか迷まよったが、結局けっきょく黙だまって通とおり過すぎた。

koe o kakeyou ka kakemai ka mayotta ga, kekkyoku damatte toorisugita.

I hesitated over whether to say something to him, and in the end walked past without a word. neutral

Same meaning2

whether; who/what/where inside a sentence

All examples3

whether to do it or not — weighing action against holding back

  1. 参加さんかしようかしまいか、締しめ切きりの日ひまで迷まよっていた。

    sanka shiyou ka shimai ka, shimekiri no hi made mayotte ita.

    I went back and forth on whether to take part, right up to the deadline. neutral

  2. 声こえをかけようかかけまいか迷まよったが、結局けっきょく黙だまって通とおり過すぎた。

    koe o kakeyou ka kakemai ka mayotta ga, kekkyoku damatte toorisugita.

    I hesitated over whether to say something to him, and in the end walked past without a word. neutral

  3. 今期こんきの計画けいかくを見直みなおそうか見直みなおすまいかで、役員会やくいんかいでも意見いけんが分わかれております。

    konki no keikaku o minaosou ka minaosumai ka de, yakuinkai de mo iken ga wakarete orimasu.

    Even the board is divided over whether to revise this term's plan. formal

How it's formed1

Notes

Both halves repeat one verb, headed by wavering or division (迷まよう,
悩なやむ, 決きめかねる, 意見いけんが分わかれる). The まい half takes
whichever shape its own verb has.