Incomplete list や

Meaning

Connects nouns in an INCOMPLETE list — "A, B, and so on." Implies there are other things not mentioned.

Formation

[noun] や [noun] (やなど)

Notes

Often paired with など ("etc.") at the end to make the open-endedness explicit: りんごやみかんなど. Contrast with と (complete list).

Examples

机（つくえ）の上（うえ）に本（ほん）やペンがあります。

There are books, pens, and other things on the desk.

Breakdown

つくえ机 desk の (possessive) うえ上 on に (location) ほん本 book や and (incomplete) ペン pen が (subject) あります are

りんごやみかんを買（か）いました。

I bought apples, mandarins, and so on.

Breakdown

りんご apple や and (incomplete) みかん mandarin o を (object) かいました買いました bought

机（つくえ）の上（うえ）にペンや本（ほん）などがあります。

There are pens, books, and so on, on the desk. (explicit など)

Breakdown

つくえ机 desk の (possessive) うえ上 on に (location) ペン pen や and (incomplete) ほん本 book など etc. が (subject) あります are

私（わたし）はスポーツや音楽（おんがく）が好（す）きです。

I like sports, music, and other things.

Breakdown

わたし私 I wa は (topic) スポーツ sports や and (incomplete) おんがく音楽 music が (subject) すき好き liked です is

京都（きょうと）や奈良（なら）へ行（い）きたいです。

I want to go to Kyoto, Nara, and other places.

Breakdown

きょうと京都 Kyoto や and (incomplete) なら奈良 Nara e へ to いきたい行きたい want to go です (polite)

〜と〜

And / with と

Two uses: (1) connects nouns in a COMPLETE list ("A and B, and nothing else"); (2) "togeth...

〜とか〜とか

Things like 〜とか〜とか

Lists a few examples out of many — "things like ~ and ~".