ようか〜まいか
“Whether to do … or not (undecided)” → Used to express that the speaker is wavering or undecided between doing something or not doing it.
N1
Meaning
“Whether to do … or not (undecided)” → Used to express that the speaker is wavering or undecided between doing something or not doing it.
Formation
Verb (volitional form) + か 〜 Verb (dictionary form) + まいか
Explanation
ようか〜まいか is used when the speaker:
has not made a decision yet
is mentally weighing two opposite options
often feels hesitation or uncertainty
Unlike ようと〜まいと, this grammar does not state that the result is unchanged.
Instead, it focuses on the process of deciding.
It is commonly used with verbs like:
迷う
悩む
考える
決めかねる
It appears in:
reflective writing
internal monologue
formal or written Japanese
JLPT N1 reading passages
💡 Core nuance:
“I’m torn between doing it and not doing it.”