182 CHAPTER 4. PARTICLES- Reiterating
This particle is an excessively contracted form of the constructions
( ) and ( ), and it can be used in a fashion similar to the quoting
particle :
”What did (you) say?”Somewhat confusingly, it’s sometimes also used as a replacement
for in its quoting role:”Even though (you) said (you) would come over, why didn’t (you)?”- Dubitative
This is a particle that is used when asking oneself a question such as when
trying to recall something, as well as when asking someone who you know
already has the answer you’re looking for, for that answer:”Now what was the phone number again...”
”What was the phone number again?”- Dubitative
This is a combination of the questioning particle and the strong con-
firmation seeking. Combined they mean something like ”I wonder”/”I
guess”:( )
”(I) guess Uematsu won’t be coming either, huh?”( )
”(I) wonder if (I)’m free Thursday...”