N5 · Particles
や, とか, など: incomplete lists
the particles of an open list
や and とか give examples from a longer list; など says "and so on".
と lists everything; や lists examples. 机の上に本やペンがあります says that there are books and pens on the desk — among other things. The listener understands that the list could go on. Like と, や joins nouns only.
など, "and so on, and the like", often closes a list made with や: 本やペンなど. The particle that the sentence needs comes after it: 本やペンなどを買いました. After a single noun it softens an offer or a suggestion: コーヒーなどいかがですか, "would you like a coffee or something?".
とか is the conversational counterpart, and it often comes after every item, the last one included: 映画とか買い物とか. Unlike や, it can also follow verbs and adjectives in casual speech, which makes it the loose, all-purpose "things like" of everyday talk.
English speakers translate every "and" as と. But "I like things like sushi and tempura" needs や: with と the list is closed — these two, and nothing more is implied. And "or" between two nouns is か — 紅茶かコーヒー — not や.
The form
| a complete list | りんごとバナナを買いました。 |
| examples only | りんごやバナナを買いました。 |
| examples, closed with など | りんごやバナナなどを買いました。 |
| casual examples | りんごとかバナナとか買ったよ。 |
| one example, softened | お茶などいかがですか。 |
| or | りんごかバナナを買います。 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
や joins nouns as examples from a longer list.
冷蔵庫に卵や牛乳があります。There are eggs, milk and so on in the fridge.
など closes the list and means "and so on"; the particle of the sentence comes after it.
京都や奈良などに行きました。I went to Kyoto, Nara and other places.
とか is the spoken form, and in conversation it often follows the last item as well.
週末はテニスとか水泳とかをします。At weekends I do things like tennis and swimming.
For "or" between two nouns, use か, not や.
紅茶かコーヒーを飲みますか。Will you have tea or coffee?
A closer look
Why a list needs to say whether it is complete
English adds "and so on" or "things like" when it wants to; Japanese builds the choice into the particle, so every list says whether it is complete. That makes と stronger than English "and". 趣味は料理と映画です says that you have exactly these two hobbies; 料理や映画です says these are among them.
In conversation the open list is often the polite choice. Naming examples instead of an exact set leaves room for the listener, and Japanese tends to prefer that room to precision nobody asked for.
How to spot it
- や
- とか
- など
- 〜や〜など
- 〜とか〜とか
Example sentences
休みの日は掃除や洗濯をします。On my days off I do the cleaning, the washing and so on.
かばんの中に財布や鍵が入っています。My wallet, my keys and other things are in the bag.
日本の料理では、すしや天ぷらなどが有名です。Among Japanese dishes, sushi, tempura and the like are well known.
駅の近くにはスーパーや病院があって、便利です。There is a supermarket, a hospital and so on near the station, so it is convenient.
誕生日に本とか花とかをもらいました。For my birthday I got things like books and flowers.
飲み物はジュースなどを用意しました。For drinks I have got juice and things like that ready.
7 more example sentences
部屋にはベッドや机があります。In the room there is a bed, a desk and so on.
机の上のペンや紙を片付けてください。Please tidy away the pens and papers on the desk.
夏は海や山に行く人が多いです。In summer a lot of people go to the sea or the mountains.
野菜や果物をたくさん食べてください。Please eat plenty of vegetables, fruit and so on.
今度、カラオケとか行かない？Do you fancy going to karaoke or something some time?
このスーパーは肉や魚などが安いです。At this supermarket meat, fish and so on are cheap.
日曜日は料理とか散歩とかをして過ごします。On Sundays I spend my time cooking, going for walks and so on.
Worth knowing (1)
-
など as a softener
After a single noun, など hardly means "and so on" any more: it makes an offer or a suggestion less direct. お茶などいかがですか offers tea while leaving room for something else — the polite vagueness of a host.
週末、映画などどうですか。How about a film or something at the weekend?
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
や joins nouns and nothing else. To give actions as examples, Japanese uses the tari-form — 〜たり〜たりする — which is the verb version of an open list.
と lists everything; や and とか give examples, and など says and so on.
Your turn
9 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.