Meaning
Lists examples without closing the list.
Formation
- A partial list: N や N (など): 本やノートなど
- など stresses that the list is not exhaustive
When to use it
- Core use
- Lists examples without closing the list
Examples
13 sentences-
机の上に本やノートがあります
There are books, notebooks, and other things on the desk.
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スーパーで野菜や果物などを買います
I buy vegetables, fruit, and other things at the supermarket.
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机の上に本やノートなどがあります
There are books, notebooks and other things on the desk.
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店でパンや牛乳などを買います
At the shop I will buy things like bread and milk.
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店で本やノートなどを買います
At the shop I will buy things like a book and a notebook.
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冷蔵庫に牛乳やジュースなどがあります
There is milk, juice and so on in the fridge.
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京都や奈良へ行きました
I went to places like Kyoto and Nara.
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朝はパンや卵を食べます
In the morning I eat things like bread and eggs.
5 more examples
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夏休みは海や山へ行きます
During the summer holidays I go to places like the sea and the mountains.
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駅の近くにはレストランや喫茶店などがあります
Near the station there are restaurants, cafés and so on.
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かばんには財布や鍵などが入っています
There are a wallet, keys and so on in the bag.
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休みの日はサッカーや野球をします
On my days off I play football, baseball and so on.
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この店には日本や中国のお菓子があります
This shop has sweets from Japan, China and other places.
Important notes
- や lists some examples from a longer list, and など adds 'and so on': 本やノートなどを買いました. など can also follow a single example.
Common mistakes
- や joins nouns, not verbs; for activities use たり: 読んだり書いたりします.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.
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