How to tell them apart
や and とか both list non-exhaustive examples, but や connects only nouns as in ビールやワイン, while とか can list nouns, verbs and adjectives as in 聞くとか読むとか with a casual nuance of something like that. など does not connect items itself. It attaches after a noun or a や list as in ワインなど to mean things like it and can downplay the item.
- や Use や to connect nouns as a non-exhaustive list meaning and or or.
- とか Use とか to list nouns, verbs or adjectives as casual examples meaning something like that.
- など Use など to attach to a noun to mean things like it and sometimes downplay it.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| や ya | Connects nouns as and, or; marks a non-exhaustive list | N5 |
| とか toka | Used for listing items; or; something like that | N4 |
| など nado | Things like; and the like; used to dismiss or downplay | N5 |
や ya
Connects nouns as and, or; marks a non-exhaustive list
や links multiple nouns to suggest typical items from a larger group, meaning A, B, and so on. It follows a noun directly in the pattern Noun や Noun, often ending with など to make the incompleteness clear. Use と instead when you are naming every item with nothing left out.
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つくえの上に本やかばんがあります。
There are books, bags, and such on the desk.
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れいぞうこにたまごやぎゅうにゅうがあります。
There are eggs, milk, and such in the fridge.
とか toka
Used for listing items; or; something like that
とか presents one or more items as vague examples from a larger set, with a nuance like for example, or, or something like that. It follows nouns and the plain form of verbs, adjectives, and clauses, often in the pattern AとかBとか, and can combine with なんか or という to increase vagueness. It is casual and common in speech, so や or たり are safer in formal writing, and it can sound dismissive when used to refer to people who deserve respect.
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私はスミスさんとかいう人に出会った。
I met a certain Mr Smith.
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ナンパとかする時、どう言うのがいいですか？
What are some good pickup lines?
など nado
Things like; and the like; used to dismiss or downplay
など adds the meaning of and so on or things like after a noun, softening a statement by showing the item is one example among others. It attaches directly to nouns, as in パンやケーキなど, and to verb phrases nominalized with こと or の, as in 旅行することなど. It can also downplay or dismiss something, so avoid pairing it with とか since that combination sounds redundant.
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ぬくもりなどどこにも見つからない。
I can't find anything like warmth anywhere.
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トムのことなど気にするな。
Ignore Tom.
や and とか and など are JLPT N5–N4 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares all 3 side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.