Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
「とか(で)」 is a versatile expression primarily used to convey unconfirmed information or hearsay, to list examples (often non-exhaustively), or to state a vague or indirect reason. The optional 「で」 often indicates a reason derived from the preceding statement.
🎯 Primary Function
Its main roles are: 1) reporting something heard indirectly or unconfirmed information (“I heard that…”, “Apparently…”), 2) giving one or more examples (implying “and so on,” “such as…”), and 3) offering a reason that is not definitively confirmed or is based on hearsay.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (Plain Form) + とか(で)
い-Adjective (Plain Form) + とか(で)
な-Adjective (Plain Form) + とか(で)
Noun + とか(で) Examples:
食べる + とか
美味しい + とか
静かだ + とか → 静かとか
学生だ + とか → 学生とか
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Generally avoided in highly formal or official situations. Its informal nature can sound inappropriate.
Informal Situations
Extremely common in casual conversations among friends, family, and close acquaintances.
Written Language
Less common in formal academic or business writing, but frequently appears in casual messages, emails, social media, and dialogue in fiction.
Spoken Language
Very frequently used in everyday spoken Japanese to add a natural, conversational feel.
💡 Common Applications
Reporting Hearsay/Unconfirmed Information
Used when the speaker is not sure about the information or heard it indirectly from someone else. It conveys a sense of “I heard/they say/apparently…”
Example: 彼、結婚したとか聞いたけど、本当かな？ (Kare, kekkon shita toka kiita kedo, hontou kana?) – I heard he got married or something, but is it true?
Listing Examples (Non-Exhaustive)
Used to give one or more examples, implying that there are other similar items or actions that are not mentioned. It conveys “such things as… and so on.”
Example: 週末は映画を見るとか、家でゲームをするとかして過ごしたい。(Shuumatsu wa eiga wo miru toka, ie de geemu wo suru toka shite sugoshi tai.) – I want to spend the weekend watching movies or playing games at home, something like that.
Stating a Vague or Indirect Reason
When used with 「で」 (とかで), it indicates a reason that is unconfirmed, based on hearsay, or is not the direct, concrete cause. It often translates to “because of something like…” or “reportedly due to…”
Example: 部長は風邪を引いたとかで、今日は会社を休んでいる。(Buchō wa kaze wo hiita toka de, kyō wa kaisha wo yasunde iru.) – The section chief is absent from work today, supposedly because he caught a cold.
Frequency
High, especially in informal spoken Japanese.
Difficulty
Medium (N2), due to its multiple nuances and the need to distinguish it from similar grammar patterns.
Example Sentences
彼、結婚したとか聞いたけど、本当かな？
I heard he got married or something, but is it true?
週末は映画を見るとか、家でゲームをするとかして過ごしたい。
I want to spend the weekend watching movies or playing games at home, something like that.
部長は風邪を引いたとかで、今日は会社を休んでいる。
The section chief is absent from work today, supposedly because he caught a cold.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Implies Uncertainty
「とか」 inherently suggests that the speaker is not the direct source of information or is not entirely certain about it. It softens the statement.
Example: 来週、会議があるとか言ってたよ。(Raishuu, kaigi ga aru toka itteta yo.) – They were saying there’s a meeting next week (but I’m not 100% sure).
Non-Exhaustive List
When listing examples, 「とか」 clearly indicates that the list is not complete and there are other similar possibilities.
Example: 休日は読書するとか、散歩するとかして過ごします。(Kyūjitsu wa dokusho suru toka, sanpo suru toka shite sugoshimasu.) – On holidays, I spend time doing things like reading or taking walks (among other things).
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using in Formal Contexts
✅ Avoid using 「とか(で)」 in highly formal business presentations or academic papers.
Its informal tone can sound inappropriate or unprofessional in formal settings. Opt for more formal expressions like 「〜によると」 or 「〜とのことです」.
❌ Confusing with Definitive Statements
✅ Remember that 「とか」 always implies a degree of uncertainty or vagueness.
Do not use 「とか」 when you want to make a firm, confirmed statement. It weakens the assertion.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Informal. It should not be used with superiors or in formal business communications.
Social Situations: Most common in casual conversations among friends, family, or people of equal or lower status. It contributes to a natural, relaxed conversational style.
Regional Variations: Widely used across Japan, with no significant regional variations in meaning or usage.
🔍 Subtle Differences
とか vs. らしい
「とか」 implies more vagueness and personal uncertainty, often heard through casual channels. 「らしい」 suggests information based on more general knowledge, appearance, or a more credible source, though still hearsay.
When to use: Use 「とか」 when you heard something casually and are less certain. Use 「らしい」 when the information seems more widely known or apparent.
とか vs. そうだ (hearsay)
「とか」 often has a slightly more casual and less definite nuance. 「そうだ」 (hearsay) can feel a bit more direct in reporting what was heard, especially if from a single, specific source.
When to use: Use 「とか」 for more casual, general hearsay or when listing. Use 「そうだ」 for a more direct report of something you heard.
とか vs. など
「とか」 is generally more informal and carries the additional nuance of hearsay or vagueness. 「など」 is a more neutral and formal way to list examples, without the hearsay implication.
When to use: Use 「とか」 in casual conversation for listing. Use 「など」 in more formal contexts or when simply listing without additional nuance.
📝 Conjugation Notes
Connects to the plain form of verbs and い-adjectives. For な-adjectives and nouns, the copula 「だ」 is often dropped before 「とか」 in casual speech (e.g., 静かだとか → 静かとか; 学生だとか → 学生とか).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The 「とか」 part is often pronounced quickly and can sound like a natural pause or filler word, especially when listing examples. The 「で」 is also often pronounced lightly and can sometimes be almost indistinguishable from the main word when spoken quickly.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of 「とか」 as “Toka-tell-me” when reporting hearsay, or “Toka-talogue” when listing examples. The “de” (とかで) signals “due to that (unconfirmed) reason.”
Vocabulary List
結婚
kekkon
marriage
聞く
kiku
to hear, to ask
本当
hontou
true, real
週末
shuumatsu
weekend
映画
eiga
movie
見る
miru
to watch, to see
家
house, home
Kanji List
彼
かれ
he
結
けつ
tie, conclude
婚
こん
marriage
聞
き
hear, listen
本
ほん
book, true
当
とう
hit, correct
週
しゅう
week
末
まつ
end
映
えい
reflect
画
が
picture
見
み
see
Practice Exercises
彼は日本語が上手だ______、よく日本のアニメを見ているらしい。
とか
ので
から
なのに
週末はハイキングに行く______、温泉に行く______考えている。
とがで、とかで
とか、とか
から、から
なのに、なのに
10 Views
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.