"And" and "things like": joining things and actions
English "and" joins anything. Japanese joins nouns with と, and actions and descriptions with the て-form: those are the two to start with. It also has forms that name a few examples and leave the rest unsaid ("things like", "and so on"). Which you use depends on what you are listing and whether you are chatting or writing.
| Form | Goes with | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| と | Nouns | "A and B": these and nothing more |
| や | Nouns | "A, B and others", in writing and polite talk |
| て-form | Verbs and adjectives | "Did A and B", in that order. Also "is A and B" |
| たり～たりする | Verbs | "Did things like A and B", in no order |
| とか | Nouns and verbs | "A, B and stuff", in casual talk. Also "A or something" |
| など, なんか | A noun, even just one | "A and so on". なんか belongs to speech |
| し | Whole statements | "A, and B too, so…": each one a reason |
と and や: "and" between nouns
と goes between nouns when you have named everything. や names two or three as examples: there are more you could have named. You meet や in writing, explanations and polite conversation; chatting with friends, people more often say とか.
My older brother and older sister came.
Those two, and nobody else.
My older brother, older sister, and some others came.
Those two, and others as well.
I put my wallet and keys in the bag.
を comes once, after the list.
The menu consists of curry, salad, and soup.
With three or more, と goes between each.
The て-form: "and" between actions and descriptions
Full pageて-formN5
The て-form is "and" after a verb or an adjective; と and や join nouns only. Every verb but the last is in the て-form, normally in the order things happen. Only the last verb shows past or present.
I went home, did my homework, and went to bed.
寝ました is past, so all three are.
With two descriptions, the first takes the て-form.
This bag is light and sturdy.
An い-adjective ends in くて. A な-adjective takes で: 静かで.
たり～たりする: a few of the things you do
Full pageたり～たりするN5
たり names one or two actions as examples and leaves the rest unsaid. It is the usual answer to "what do you do on weekends?" or "what did you do on vacation?". Every verb takes たり, the last one too, and する closes the list.
Yesterday I went shopping and then saw a movie.
The て-form: these two things, in this order.
Yesterday I went shopping, saw a movie, that sort of thing.
たり: two examples, in no order. There may have been more.
On my days off, I do things like walk in the park and read at a café.
歩いたり looks like the past, but the time comes from します at the end.
Where it goes wrong: "and" between verbs
English "and" joins verbs too, so learners put と or や between them.
Not said: 朝ご飯を
(I ate breakfast and went to school.)
朝ご飯を食べて、学校へ行きました.
Not said: 休みの
(On my days off I read, watch films and so on.)
本を読んだり、映画を見たりします.
とか: examples, in casual talk
Full pageとか～とかN4
とか does in relaxed talk what や does in writing, and it follows verbs as well as nouns.
There are books, notebooks and other things on the desk.
や: written, or polite.
There are books and notebooks and stuff on the desk.
とか: the same list, said to a friend. The second とか can be left off.
A single とか is very common in conversation. It offers one idea and leaves room for others, like "or something".
What shall we have for lunch?
Ramen or something?
How about going to a café or something this weekend?
とか is relaxed, spoken Japanese, with or without です and ます. A job interview, or anything you write for school or work, takes や, など or たり.
など and なんか: "and so on"
Full pageなど・
など follows a noun and says there are others like it. One example is enough, where や needs two. It is fine in conversation, and the one for notices, news and anything written. なんか means the same and, like とか, belongs to speech. Before a refusal or complaint, なんか says the thing isn't worth much.
I've got tea and other things ready for the break.
Polite, or written.
I got some tea and stuff ready for the break.
To a friend.
There are books, notebooks and other things on the desk.
After a や list, など puts the "and so on" into words.
し: "and" between reasons
Full pageしN4
し comes after a whole statement, and each statement is a reason for the same conclusion, where the て-form only says "and".
This place is cheap, and it's close to the station, so I come here a lot.
Even one し hints at more reasons you haven't said. In conversation people often stop at し and leave the conclusion unsaid, which is a soft way to turn something down.
Sorry. I've got an exam tomorrow, for one thing.
し is not "and then". Things you did one after another take the て-form.
Not said: 朝起きたし、
(I got up, washed my face and went to work.)
朝起きて、顔を洗って、会社に行きました.
More ways to say "and" and "or something"
それからN5
"After that": the everyday word for what you did next, in a new sentence.
I ate breakfast. Then I went to school.
そしてN5
"And" at the start of a new sentence, mostly in stories, essays and speeches.
The rain stopped, and then the moon appeared between the clouds.
でもN4
"Or something" after a noun, in an invitation or an offer, polite ones too. Not the でも that means "but".
Would you like a coffee or something?