など・とか: Giving Examples ('Such As', 'And So On')
Naming a sample, not the whole set
など and とか both tell the listener that what you've just named is a sample, not the complete picture — "for example, things like this." など is the neutral, slightly more formal choice; とか is its everyday, conversational twin. Attach either to a noun (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.
Mechanically, both just clip onto a noun. With とか you normally repeat it after each item; など can trail a single noun or sit at the end of a や-list:
| 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 |
Sealing a や-list with など
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." That や…など pairing is the idiomatic combo — や on its own only joins nouns and can't say "etc.," so it leans on など to cap the list.
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.
Using など to soften an offer
など has a second job: it softens a suggestion or offer, the way English tacks on "or something." Naming your suggestion as just one example among others makes it sound less direct — and more polite.
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.
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 everyday twin
In conversation, とか does the same job as など but sounds relaxed. When you name two or more items, repeat it after each one — 掃除とか洗濯とか, not 掃除とか洗濯:
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.
Picking among など, とか, and や
They overlap heavily, and the split is mostly about register. Reach for など in writing, polite speech, or anything semi-formal; reach for とか when you're chatting with friends — a casual とか dropped into a formal essay reads as too breezy. や is the odd one out: it only joins nouns and never means "etc." by itself, so pair it with など when you want the "and the like" cap.
| 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) |
One trap survives whichever word you pick: because both sit on a noun rather than replacing its grammar, the sentence's particle still has to follow — お茶などを飲む, 映画などに行く. Dropping that を or に is the classic giveaway error.
In a nutshell
- 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.
Put it to work
Choose the correct use of など / とか to give examples.
＿＿＿に入れるのに最もよいものを選びなさい。
Choose the grammar pattern that best completes the sentence.
肥大化、過度の商業化＿＿＿の問題も抱えて、五輪は新世紀に向かう。
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.
Where など・とか fits
Don't confuse it with
- なんて / なんか · N5 — なんか softens or gives a vague example ('something like'); なんて means 'such as / things like,' often dismissive or surprised. Learn the nuance, formation, and when to avoid them.
- 〜をはじめ · N3 — 〜をはじめ(として) names the leading example of a larger group: 日本をはじめ、アジアで人気. Learn the formation, the adnominal 〜をはじめとする, register, and common mistakes.
- や · N5 — The particle や lists nouns as examples, not a full set: 本やペンがある ('books, pens, and such'). Learn how や differs from と, and how to pair it with など.
Once this clicks, go on to
- なんて / なんか · N5 — なんか softens or gives a vague example ('something like'); なんて means 'such as / things like,' often dismissive or surprised. Learn the nuance, formation, and when to avoid them.
More N4 grammar to explore
Keep going with related patterns at the same level:
- 〜こと — こと turns a verb or clause into a noun: 話すことは難しい ('speaking is hard'). Learn the formation, こと vs の, and frames like 〜ことがある, 〜ことにする, and 〜ことになる.
- 〜ということ — 〜ということ packages a whole clause into a noun: 'the fact that…' or 'that means…'. Learn the frames ということだ, ということを知る, and how it differs from こと.
- 〜必要がある — 〜必要がある means 'need to' or 'it's necessary to': dictionary verb + 必要がある. Learn 必要はない ('no need to'), noun + が必要, and how it differs from なければならない.
- 〜場合は — 〜場合は means 'in the case of' or 'if': plain form + 場合(は). Learn the formation, why it sounds formal, and how it differs from the everyday たら, なら, and と.
- 〜がする — 〜がする marks a sense you perceive: においがする (there's a smell), 音がする (a sound), 味がする (a taste), 気がする (a feeling). Learn the nouns, the が particle, and the past がした.
- 〜じゃないか / 〜じゃない — 〜じゃないか / 〜じゃない seeks agreement or shows surprise — 'isn't it?', 'right?', 'see, I told you!'. Learn the tone that flips it from negation to confirmation, plus polite 〜じゃないですか.