Posted inN2 Grammar

Mastering やら~やら: Expressing Lists and Uncertainty in Japanese (N2 Grammar)

Posted inN2 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

The pattern やら~やら is used to list two or more examples, often implying that there are other similar things not explicitly mentioned. It can also express a state of confusion, bewilderment, or being overwhelmed by multiple factors or emotions.

🎯 Primary Function

To present a non-exhaustive list of items (nouns, verbs, adjectives) or to describe a state of confusion or mixed feelings/reasons stemming from various elements.

📋 Grammar Structure

Noun やら Noun やら Verb (plain form) やら Verb (plain form) やら い-adjective (plain form) やら い-adjective (plain form) やら な-adjective (stem) やら な-adjective (stem) やら Note: The two items connected by やら~やら must generally be of the same grammatical category.

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used in both formal and informal contexts. When listing general examples, it is broadly applicable. When expressing confusion or being overwhelmed, it tends to be more common in conversational or reflective settings.

😊 Informal Situations

Very common in informal conversation to express a mix of feelings or an overwhelming situation.

✍️ Written Language

Frequently appears in written narratives, essays, and reports when listing examples or describing a complex state of affairs.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Commonly used in spoken Japanese, especially when one is trying to convey a sense of being bothered, overwhelmed, or uncertain by multiple things.

💡 Common Applications

Listing multiple examples (often with a negative or burdensome nuance)
Used to cite several instances, often implying that these are just a few examples among many, or that these things are causing a problematic situation.
Example: 宿題やらアルバイトやらで、毎日忙しいです。 (I’m busy every day with things like homework and part-time work.)
Expressing confusion, helplessness, or being overwhelmed by various factors/emotions
When used with interrogatives or with opposing states/emotions, it conveys uncertainty or an inability to process or deal with the situation due to too many contributing elements.
Example: 彼は怒っているやら悲しんでいるやら、感情が読み取れませんでした。 (I couldn’t read his emotions; whether he was angry or sad, I couldn’t tell.)
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📊
Frequency
Moderately frequent. It is a useful pattern for advanced learners to express more nuanced ideas related to lists and mental states.
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N2
Example Sentences
雨やら風やらで、今日のピクニックは中止になった。
Due to things like rain and wind, today’s picnic was canceled.
彼は大学を卒業したばかりで、何をしたらいいやら、どこへ行ったらいいやら、途方に暮れていた。
He had just graduated from university and was at a loss, unsure what to do or where to go.
嬉しいやら恥ずかしいやらで、顔が真っ赤になった。
My face turned bright red from a mix of happiness and embarrassment.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Non-exhaustive list
Similar to とか〜とか, やら~やら implies that the listed items are not exhaustive. There may be other unmentioned factors or examples.
Example: 試験やらレポートやらで、寝る暇もない。(I have no time to sleep, what with exams and reports, etc.)
Nuance of confusion/overwhelm
A key nuance of やら~やら is the implication of confusion, bewilderment, or being overwhelmed by the various listed items or circumstances. This is particularly strong when used with interrogatives.
Example: どうしたらいいのやら、まったく分からない。(I really don’t know what I should do.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using for simple, neutral lists.
✅ While it can list examples, やら~やら often carries a nuance of confusion, being overwhelmed, or listing problematic things. For simple, neutral lists, とか〜とか or listing with 〜や are more appropriate.
やら~やら is not a direct substitute for general “and” or listing particles like や. It adds a specific nuance.
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🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral to slightly informal. It is more about expressing a state of being than a specific politeness level.
Social Situations: Used in various social situations where one needs to explain multiple contributing factors, especially when feeling overwhelmed, confused, or listing things that are bothersome.
Regional Variations: Generally standard Japanese with no significant regional variations.

🔍 Subtle Differences

やら~やら vs. 〜たり〜たり (V-たりV-たりする)
〜たり〜たり lists alternating actions or states. やら~やら lists multiple simultaneous examples (nouns, verbs, adjectives) and strongly implies a sense of confusion or being overwhelmed.
When to use: Use やら~やら when listing examples with a nuance of confusion, bewilderment, or overwhelming factors. Use 〜たり〜たり for listing actions that occur alternately or sporadically.
やら~やら vs. 〜とか〜とか
〜とか〜とか is a more neutral way to list examples, often implying “for example, things like…”. やら~やら carries a stronger nuance of confusion, uncertainty, or being bothered/overwhelmed by the listed items.
When to use: Use やら~やら when the list conveys a sense of burden, confusion, or a mix of strong emotions/reasons. Use 〜とか〜とか for more general or neutral examples.
やら~やら vs. 〜だの〜だの
〜だの〜だの is very similar to やら~やら in listing examples, often with a nuance of complaint or criticism. While やら~やら can also convey negativity, it leans more towards confusion or being overwhelmed, whereas だの〜だの often implies a slightly more critical or dismissive tone regarding the listed items.
When to use: Use やら~やら for a broader sense of overwhelming factors or confusion. Use 〜だの〜だの when there’s a stronger element of complaint or criticism about the listed items.

📝 Conjugation Notes

Verbs and い-adjectives are used in their plain forms. Nouns directly attach やら. な-adjectives use their stem form before やら.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

The “ya” in やら is pronounced clearly. When used to express confusion or a mixture of feelings, a slight pause or intonation change between the two “やら” phrases can emphasize the nuance of being overwhelmed.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of “YAre YAre” (meaning “oh dear, oh dear”) as a mnemonic for the “overwhelmed/confused” nuance. It’s “this and that, and I’m tired/confused.”

Vocabulary List
宿題
shukudai
homework
アルバイト
arubaito
part-time job
忙しい
isogashii
busy
怒っている
okotteiru
angry
悲しんでいる
kanashindeiru
sad
感情
kanjou
emotion
読み取れませんでした
couldn’t read/discern
Kanji List
宿
しゅく
lodging
題
だい
topic
忙
ぼう
busy
怒
おこ
angry
悲
かな
sad
感
かん
feeling
情
じょう
emotion
読
よ
read
取
と
take
途
と
route, way
方
ほう
direction, method
Practice Exercises
昨夜は______で、全然眠れませんでした。
a) 騒音やら暑さやら
b) 騒音や暑さ
c) 騒音たり暑さたり
d) 騒音とか暑さとか
彼は大学を卒業したばかりで、将来について______だった。
a) 何をしたらいいやら、どこへ行ったらいいやら
b) 何をする、どこへ行く
c) 何をしたり、どこへ行ったり
d) 何とか、どこか
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