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He knew it before, but now his memory is hazy. What is he trying to check?

Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N3 · Intermediate 3

〜っけ~kke

recalling and checking

Use 「〜っけ」 casually to check something you knew before but cannot clearly remember now.

How it works

He knew it before, but now his memory is hazy. What is he trying to check?
Use 「っけ」 at the end of a sentence to recall and check something you have forgotten or cannot remember clearly.
The key is that you knew it before. If you have no idea and are asking for the first time, use a regular question.
You can ask someone to help you check, or say it to yourself while trying to recall the answer.
「っけ」 is common in casual speech. In formal situations, use a polite way of asking instead.

The past tense in these two sentences shows you are recalling something you learned before. It does not mean the readings have changed since then.

「39」さんじゅうきゅうsanjuukyuuは「わwaサンキュー」さんきゅーsankyuuだったdattaっけ。kke。
Was "39" read as "thank you"?
「1122」せんひゃくにじゅうにsenhyakunijuuniは「わwaいいiiふうふ」ふうふfuufuとto読むよむyomuんnだったdattaっけ。kke。
Was "1122" read as "ii-fuufu" (good couple)?

A
「4」よんと「と9」きゅうを避けるさける理由、りゆう、何なんだったっけ？っけ
A: What was the reason for avoiding "4" and "9" again?
B
「し」しと「とく」くで「で死苦」しくに聞こえるきこえるから縁起えんぎが悪いわるいんだよ。
B: Because "shi" and "ku" sound like "death" and "suffering," so it's unlucky.
A
そうか、音おとの響きひびきが不吉ふきつなわけか。なぜか忘れにくいわすれにくい話はなしだね。
A: I see, so the pronunciation itself is unlucky. For some reason, it's hard to forget.

Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
"39" was read as "thank you," right?
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
「39」は「サンキュー」だった____。
"39" was read as "thank you," right?