JLPT N1・N2 Grammar – Difference between “やら～やら” and “だの～だの”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “やら～やら” and “だの～だの”
2. 〜やら〜やら
3. 〜だの〜だの
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similer Articles
8. Comment
Q: What is the difference between “やら～やら” and “だの～だの”?
A: Both are expressions used to list multiple things, but they differ in the emotions they convey and the context in which they are used. Each has a distinct nuance and should be used appropriately depending on the situation.
やら～やら (JLPT N2)
[Meaning]
Used to express that multiple events or conditions are occurring at the same time. Often used when the speaker feels overwhelmed, confused, or finds the situation complicated or difficult.
[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary form + やら + Verb dictionary form + やら
[A] い adjective + やら + い adjective + やら
[N] Noun + やら + Noun + やら
[Examples]
子どもが泣くやら騒ぐやらで、全然仕事に集中できませんでした。
The children were crying and making noise, so I couldn’t concentrate on my work at all.
父の書斎には本やら置物やらが置いてあります。
In my father’s study, there are books, ornaments, and all sorts of things.
嬉しいやら恥ずかしいやら、なんとも言えない気持ちになりました。
I felt happy and embarrassed at the same time—it was a feeling I couldn’t quite describe.
“やら〜やら” is a grammatical structure used to list multiple things or situations in order to convey an overall picture. While it can sometimes be used in a neutral or even positive context, it is most often used to express situations that feel difficult, confusing, or emotionally complex for the speaker. The nuance can shift depending on context, so careful use is important.
① Listing examples to suggest “there’s a lot”
Although similar to “や〜など,” “やら〜やら” implies that many more items are involved beyond the examples given, creating a sense of clutter or lack of order.
[Examples]
この店には、家具やら照明やら、いろいろなものが売られています。
This shop sells all sorts of things, such as furniture and lighting.
弟のかばんの中は、レシートやらガムやらでぐちゃぐちゃでした。
My younger brother’s bag was a mess, filled with things like receipts and chewing gum.
② Listing situations to express difficulty or confusion
By enumerating specific events or conditions, this usage conveys the speaker’s sense of busyness or emotional turmoil as a result.
[Examples]
引っ越しの準備で、荷造りやら掃除やら、毎日バタバタしています。
With all the moving preparations, like packing and cleaning, every day has been hectic.
レポートやら会議やらで、昼ごはんを食べる暇もなかったよ。
I was so busy with things like reports and meetings that I didn’t even have time to eat lunch.
* In this way, it is used to present examples that illustrate “what was difficult.”
③ Listing contrasting emotions to express a complex feeling
By pairing a positive and a negative emotion, the expression conveys a nuanced emotional state that is not entirely happy or entirely sad.
[Examples]
雨やら風やらで、運動会はさんざんな結果だったよ。
Because of the rain and wind, the sports day ended in a terrible result.
社内発表を伝えると、喜ぶやら驚くやら、反応は様々でした。
When I shared the company announcement, reactions varied—some were happy, others surprised.
クラスメイトの前で先生に褒められて、嬉しいやら恥ずかしいやら複雑な気持ちだった。
I was praised by the teacher in front of my classmates, and I felt a mix of emotions—both happy and embarrassed.
だの～だの (JLPT N1)
[Meaning]
This expression is used when the speaker wants to list multiple things while expressing dissatisfaction or criticism toward someone’s actions or words. It often has a sarcastic tone and is used to quote what the other person said or did in a disapproving way.
[Rule]
[V] Verb plain form + だの + Verb plain form + だの
[A] い adjective plain form + だの + い adjective plain form + だの
[Na] な adjective plain form + だの + な adjective plain form + だの
[N] Noun plain form + だの + Noun plain form + だの
[Examples]
最近の若者は働きたくないだの責任を持ちたくないだの言ってるけど、それで社会は回りません。
Young people these days say things like they don’t want to work or don’t want to take responsibility, but society can’t function like that.
仕事が大変だの忙しいだの言って、彼とはまともに話す時間もないです。
He keeps saying he’s too busy or that work is too hard, and I can’t even have a proper conversation with him.
彼は遅刻だの忘れ物だの、いつもトラブルばかりですね。
He’s always causing trouble—being late, forgetting things, and so on.
This expression is often used when the speaker wants to convey feelings of dissatisfaction or criticism. In many cases, it reflects a slightly sarcastic tone in response to the other person’s words or actions.
[Examples]
母はダイエットすると言いながら、チョコレートだのケーキだのを食べています。
My mother keeps saying she’s on a diet, but she eats things like chocolate and cake.
あの人は疲れただの忙しいだのと、いつも誘いを断ります。
That person is always saying they’re tired or busy, and turns down every invitation.
弟は面接で緊張しただの、うまく話せなかっただのと言い訳ばかりで、聞いていて嫌になりました。
My younger brother keeps making excuses, like being nervous or not speaking well during the interview, and I got tired of listening to it.
It is also commonly used to quote what someone said with disapproval, and the second example can sometimes be shortened using “何だの.”
[Examples]
彼は社長に言われなかっただの何だの言って、締め切りを守りませんでした。
He said things like “The president didn’t tell me” and other excuses, and didn’t meet the deadline.
妹は夢があるだの何だの言って、いまだに定職に就いていません。
My younger sister keeps saying things like “I have a dream” and so on, and still hasn’t gotten a steady job.
Let’s Compare
Which of the following sounds more natural?
[Example ①]
① 夏祭りで焼きそば屋やらたこ焼き屋やらが並んでいて、何を食べようか悩みました。
② 夏祭りで焼きそば屋だのたこ焼き屋だのが並んでいて、何を食べようか悩みました。
The correct choice is ①.
“やら～やら” presents examples while implying that there are many more similar items.
[Example ②]
① 上司は結果が出てないやら態度が悪いやらって、部下の努力をまったく見ていません。
② 上司は結果が出てないだの態度が悪いだのって、部下の努力をまったく見ていません。
The correct choice is ②.
Since this expresses criticism or dissatisfaction, “だの～だの” is more appropriate.
Summary
[やら～やら]
- Unlike “や～など,” “やら～やら” expresses a state where various things are mixed together beyond just the listed examples.
- It is often used in situations that involve confusion or difficulty for the speaker, and is commonly paired with opposing feelings or states, such as “happy” and “embarrassed.”
[だの～だの]
- This expression is used to convey dissatisfaction or criticism toward someone’s behavior or situation.
- It allows the speaker to quote what the other person said with a negative nuance, and from the second example onward, it can be abbreviated using “なんだの.”
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. やら・やら
銅メダルをとって嬉しいやら悔しいやら複雑な気持ちになりました。
I got a bronze medal and felt a mix of emotions — happy and frustrated.
*“やら～やら” is appropriate because it expresses the speaker’s mixed and conflicting emotions.
A. だの・だの
彼女はお金がほしいだの、服がほしいだの言っているのに働くつもりはないようです。
She says she wants money and clothes, but doesn’t seem willing to work.
*“だの～だの” is used here to quote the person’s remarks critically, conveying disapproval.
A. だの・だの
彼はうるさくて仕事ができないだの、何だの文句ばかり言っています。
He keeps complaining that it’s too noisy to work and brings up other issues.
*“だの～だの” is appropriate because the speaker is quoting the other person’s words with a critical tone.
A. やら・やら
東京の電車は丸の内線やら中央線やらあって、乗り方が難しいです。
In Tokyo, there are many train lines like the Marunouchi Line and the Chuo Line, which makes it hard to figure out how to ride them.
*“やら～やら” fits well, as it indicates a mix of various train lines.
Similer Articles
- JLPT N2・N4 Grammar – The difference between ”〜にくい”, ”〜づらい” and “〜がたい”
- JLPT N1・N3 Grammar – “〜だらけ” and “〜まみれ”
- JLPT N2・N3 Grammar – The difference between “〜あげく” “〜末に” and “〜結果”
- JLPT N0・N1 Grammar – The Difference between “〜きらいがある” and “〜ふしがある”
- JLPT N2 Grammar – The difference between “〜に相違ない” and “〜に他ならない”
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