なり～なりA or B or something
You name two things someone could do, as examples: this, or that, or something like them. Advice, a request or your own intention follows.
If the headache doesn't go away, please see a doctor, ask a pharmacist, something like that.
Please order tea, coffee, or whatever you like.
Verbs
Dictionary form + なり + dictionary form + なり（+ する）
する often closes the list and carries the request: 行くなり相談するなりしてください.
Nouns
Noun + なり + noun + なり
A particle comes once, after the second, or before each: 電話なりメールなりで, 上司になり人事部になり.
- After it
- してください, するといい, していい, しよう, or an offer such as お持ちします.
- Tone
- Any of these will do. With an order such as しなさい it can sound impatient: just do something.
- Where you'll meet it
- Conversation and writing: a doctor, a teacher, a boss, a manual. Among friends it is usually とか: 電話するとかメールするとかして.
In use
You could freeze the leftover ingredients, give them to someone, that sort of thing.
I mean to cover my tuition myself somehow: get a part-time job, take out a student loan, whatever it takes.
If you need anything, a blanket or whatever it may be, I'll bring it.
なり何なり: that, or anything else.
It looks ahead
These are things that could be done, and any one of them will do. So it is rare in a sentence about the past, and it never lists what happened. That is たり.
Not said: 昨日は
(Yesterday I saw a film, did some shopping, things like that.)
映画を見たり買い物をしたりした.
One fixed phrase is different. 大なり小なり, "to a greater or lesser degree", goes in plain statements.
Everyone has worries, big or small.
Other なり
なり・たなりN1
Once, after a verb: "the moment". After a た-form, "and stayed that way".
The moment she read the letter, her expression changed.
Other pairs that name two things
Says it makes no difference: "whether A or B". Written, firm.
Student or working adult, everyone must follow this library's rules.
といい～といいN1
Gives two grounds for one verdict: "the A, the B, all good", or all bad.
The location, the service: you can't fault this hotel.
Puts it in between: "neither quite A nor quite B".
His reply was vague, neither clearly a yes nor a no.
Means everywhere, or at all hours: "A, B, all over".
The children came home covered in mud: faces, arms, everywhere.
だの～だのN1
Sounds fed up: "A, B, on and on", what someone keeps saying. Spoken.
The guest went on and on: the room was small, the view was bad, and so on.
Check yourself
1Which sentence sounds natural?
Choose an answer to see why.
2The same word goes in both blanks.
疲れたら、
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
While you wait you can read, listen to music, spend the time however you like.
Post the application form or bring it to the counter: please choose whichever way suits you.
Please reply by phone, by email, whichever suits you.
Don't keep it to yourself: talk to your manager, to HR, to someone.