など・とか: Giving Examples ('Such As', 'And So On')
What it means
など and とか are both ways to say "for example, things like this" — they tell the listener your list is just a sample, not everything. など is the neutral, slightly more formal choice; とか is its everyday, conversational twin. You attach them to nouns (and とか can even follow verbs in casual speech) to mean "such as," "like," or "and so on."
ヤッタンは果物、例えばりんごやバナナなどが好きです。
ヤッタンは くだもの、たとえば りんごや バナナなどが すきです。
Yattan likes fruit — for example, things like apples and bananas.
りんごやバナナなど = apples, bananas, and the like.
週末はモチと掃除とか洗濯とかをします。
しゅうまつは モチと そうじとか せんたくとかを します。
On weekends I do stuff like cleaning and laundry with Mochi.
先生、お茶などいかがですか。
せんせい、おちゃなど いかがですか。
Teacher, would you care for some tea or something?
など softens the offer — less pushy than just お茶.
How to form it
Both attach straight onto a noun. With とか you usually repeat it after each item:
| Pattern | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun + など | "such as / and so on" (neutral) | りんごやバナナなど = apples, bananas, etc. |
| Noun + など + particle | など takes the noun's role in the sentence | お茶などいかがですか = how about some tea? |
| A とか B とか | "things like A and B" (casual) | 掃除とか洗濯とか = stuff like cleaning and laundry |
| Single とか | one vague example (casual) | 映画とか = a movie or something |
| Verb + とか | listing actions, casual | 寝るとかしたい = I want to do things like sleep |
など — "such as," "and so on"
Use など after one or more nouns to mark them as examples. It pairs naturally with 〜や, which links nouns in an incomplete list: や opens the list, など closes it off with "…and so on."
ヤッタンは週末、買い物や映画などに行きます。
ヤッタンは しゅうまつ、かいものや えいがなどに いきます。
On weekends Yattan goes shopping, to the movies, and so on.
この店ではノートやペンなどが買えます。
このみせでは ノートや ペンなどが かえます。
At this shop you can buy notebooks, pens, and the like.
など can also soften a suggestion or offer, the way English adds "or something." It makes you sound less direct and more polite.
疲れたら、少し休むなどしてください。
つかれたら、すこし やすむなど して ください。
If you're tired, please do something like rest a little.
休むなどして = do things such as resting.
とか — the casual version
In conversation, とか does the same job as など but sounds relaxed. Repeat it after each item to list a couple of examples:
ヤッタンの弟はゲームとかアニメとかが好きだ。
ヤッタンの おとうとは ゲームとか アニメとかが すきだ。
Yattan's little brother likes things like games and anime.
A single とか works too, when you toss out just one loose example:
今度の週末、映画とか見ない？
こんどの しゅうまつ、えいがとか みない？
Want to watch a movie or something this weekend?
One とか = a vague, casual suggestion.
Unlike など, とか can follow verbs in casual speech to list possible actions:
今日は何もしたくない。寝るとかしたい。
きょうは なにも したくない。ねるとか したい。
I don't want to do anything today. I just want to do things like sleep.
な ど vs とか — which one?
They overlap a lot. The quick rule: reach for など in writing, polite speech, or anything semi-formal; reach for とか when chatting with friends.
| Form | Core idea | Example |
|---|---|---|
| など | neutral / polite 'such as, and so on' | お茶などいかがですか = how about some tea? |
| とか | casual 'things like…', repeated after each item | 掃除とか洗濯とか = stuff like cleaning and laundry |
| や | joins nouns in an incomplete list (no 'etc.' by itself) | りんごやバナナ = apples and bananas (among others) |
Common mistakes
- Mixing up や and など. 〜や only joins nouns; it doesn't mean "etc." on its own. To add the "and so on" feeling, cap the list with など: りんごやバナナなど.
- Using one とか. A single とか is fine for a vague example (映画とか), but when listing two items, repeat it: 掃除とか洗濯とか, not 掃除とか洗濯.
- Putting とか in a formal essay. とか is casual. In writing or polite situations, switch to など.
- Forgetting the particle after など. など takes the noun's grammatical role, so you still need a particle: お茶などを飲む / 映画などに行く.
Quick recap
- など = "such as / and so on," neutral to polite; attaches to nouns.
- とか〜とか = the casual version; repeat とか after each example.
- A single とか = one loose example ("…or something"); とか can follow verbs in casual speech.
- や joins nouns, など/とか add the "…and the like" cap. や + など is a very common combo.
Your turn
Choose the correct use of など / とか to give examples.
Start the 5-question drill →Take the full N4 など・とか drill →
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between など and とか?
They mean the same thing — 'such as, and so on' — but など is neutral to polite and common in writing, while とか is casual and used in conversation. In a friendly chat, とか sounds more natural; in an essay or polite speech, use など.
How is など different from や?
や joins nouns in an incomplete list (りんごやバナナ = apples and bananas, among others) but doesn't mean 'etc.' by itself. など caps the list with 'and so on': りんごやバナナなど. They're often used together.
Do I need to repeat とか?
When listing two or more items, yes: 掃除とか洗濯とか. A single とか is fine when you're giving just one vague example, like 映画とか見ない？ ('want to see a movie or something?').
Can とか follow a verb?
Yes, in casual speech: 寝るとかしたい ('I want to do things like sleep'). This is one place where とか is more flexible than など in everyday conversation.