JLPT N2
っけ
Was it ~? (trying to recall)
Structure
Plain form っけ
How it works
This particle is used at the end of a sentence when the speaker is trying to recall information they once knew but have forgotten, or to confirm something they are unsure about. It carries a nostalgic or questioning tone and is primarily used in casual conversation. It attaches to plain forms, especially だ and the past (〜た/〜だった), and can also follow polite forms (〜ました/〜でした) when being slightly more respectful.
Examples
今日の会議、何時からだっけ？
What time was today's meeting again?
佐藤さんの誕生日は明日だったっけ？
Was Sato-san's birthday tomorrow? I can't quite remember.
そんなこと、前に言いましたっけ？
Did I say something like that before? (I don't recall.)
Common mistakes
Using it for new information you never knew; it must only be used for information you are 're-confirming' or 'recalling'.
Tip
Think of 'っけ' as the internal monologue of your brain searching for a stored memory. It is often paired with 'だっけ' or 'たっけ'.
More JLPT N2 grammar
See っけ in real Japanese
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