JLPT N1・N3 Grammar – Difference between “〜やら〜やら” and “〜とか〜とか”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “〜やら〜やら” and “〜とか〜とか”
2. AやらBやら
3. AとかBとか
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Similer Articles
7. Comment
Q: Are ”やら〜やら” and ”とか〜とか” the same?
A: At first glance they may seem similar, but in fact, their usage and the nuance they convey are different.
AやらBやら (JLPT N1)
[Rule]
[V/A/Na/N] Verb dictionary form / い adjective / な adjective な / Noun + やら + Verb dictionary form / い adjective / な adjective な / Noun
[Examples]
机の上はパソコンやら本やらでぐちゃぐちゃです。
My desk is a mess with things like my laptop and books scattered everywhere.
今日は電車が遅れるやらパソコンが壊れるやら、散々な一日でした。
Today was a terrible day — the train was delayed, my laptop broke, and so on.
このドラマは悲しいやら面白いやらで、けっきょく毎週見てしまいます。
This drama is both sad and funny, so I end up watching it every week.
There are three main ways to use it.
① When listing various mixed examples
It is similar to “〜や〜など,” but it gives a stronger impression of clutter or a mix of many different things.
[Examples]
財布の中はレシートやらポイントカードやらでパンパンです。
My wallet is stuffed with receipts, point cards, and all sorts of things.
この雑貨屋は本やらおもちゃやら、なんでも売っています。
This variety shop sells everything — books, toys, and more.
子供のベッドの上にはお菓子やらマンガやらが散らかっています。
My child’s bed is a mess with snacks, comic books, and other things scattered all over.
② When expressing confusion, busyness, or difficulty
This is used in everyday situations where there’s “too much to do” or “many things happening at once,” making things overwhelming.
[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。
I’ve been busy every day with things like packing and cleaning to prepare for the move.
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 tied up with reports and meetings that I didn’t even have time to eat lunch.
今月は子供が熱を出すやら、主人が入院するやらで本当に大変でした。
This month has been truly tough — my child had a fever, my husband was hospitalized, and so on.
③ When expressing complex emotions
It is used to express mixed and hard-to-organize feelings by placing opposing emotions side by side.
Commonly used in situations where emotions like joy, sadness, and deep emotion are all mixed together.
[Examples]
内定が決まったときは、嬉しいやら不安やらで複雑な気持ちでした。
When I got the job offer, I had mixed feelings — I was happy but also anxious.
卒業式では感動やら寂しさやらで、涙が止まりませんでした。
At the graduation ceremony, I was so moved and also felt lonely that I couldn’t stop crying.
旅行は楽しいやら忙しいやらで、あっという間でした。
The trip was fun and hectic, and it was over before I knew it.
AとかBとか (JLPT N3)
[Rule]
[V] Verb plain form + とか + Verb plain form + とか
[N] Noun + とか + Noun + とか
[Examples]
家で仕事できなければ、図書館に行くとか部屋を借りるとかしたらどうですか。
If you can’t work at home, how about going to the library or renting a room or something like that?
わからない言葉は、ネットで調べるとか友達に聞くとかしています。
When I come across words I don’t know, I look them up online or ask a friend.
フランス語とかドイツ語とかヨーロッパの言語に興味があります。
I’m interested in European languages, like French or German.
There are two main ways to use it.
① When giving specific examples from within the same group
It’s similar to “〜や〜など,” but has a more casual and conversational tone.
Often used in everyday conversation when casually listing examples like “this or that.”
[Examples]
財布にはカードとか免許証とかが入ってます。
I have things like cards and my driver’s license in my wallet.
明日は渋谷で買い物とか食事とかしない？
Do you want to go shopping or get something to eat in Shibuya tomorrow?
休みの日は、本を読むとかケーキを作るとかして過ごしています。
On my days off, I spend time reading books or baking cakes.
② When expressing frustration toward vague behavior or attitudes
It is used to show indecisiveness by placing opposing words (like “go” or “not go,” “do” or “not do”) side by side.
In many cases, the speaker’s feelings of irritation or exasperation are implied.
[Examples]
買い物に行くとか行かないとか、どっちなの？はっきりして。
Are you going shopping or not? Make up your mind.
仕事を続けるとか辞めるとか言ってるけど、逃げてるだけじゃないの？
You keep saying you’ll either keep the job or quit, but aren’t you just avoiding responsibility?
わかるとかわからないとかじゃなくて、ちゃんと説明してほしいです。
It’s not about whether you understand or not — I want you to explain it properly.
Let’s Compare
What’s the difference in nuance in the following cases?
[Examples]
①子供の部屋はいつも散らかっていて、ゲームやら雑誌やらがあちこちにあります。
②子供の部屋はいつも散らかっていて、ゲームとか雑誌とかがあちこちにあります。
”やら〜やら” strongly conveys the feeling that all sorts of things are jumbled together in a messy and chaotic way.
On the other hand, ”とか〜とか” simply lists a few examples, and doesn’t fully express the disorder or clutter.
Therefore, if you want to more vividly convey how messy the child’s room is, ”やら〜やら” is the more appropriate choice.
Summary
[AやらBやら]
- While it involves giving examples, it goes beyond simple listing—its key feature is expressing a mix of elements, disorder, or overlapping emotions.
- ①Presents two representative examples while also describing a cluttered state where various other things are mixed in.
- ②Conveys situations where multiple events overlap, resulting in great difficulty or confusion.
- ③Expresses complex and conflicting emotions by placing opposing feelings or words side by side.
[AとかBとか]
- A colloquial and casual way to give examples. While it has the nuance of listing, it does not convey depth of description or emotional complexity.
- ①Used when giving a few concrete examples from within the same category. Unlike ”やら〜やら,” it does not imply disorder or a mix of emotions.
- ②Used with opposing words to show that the other person’s behavior or speech is vague and indecisive. In many cases, the speaker’s feelings of frustration or annoyance are implied.
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