Kotomora
JLPT N2Construction
Furigana

やら～やらExpressive listing

やら～やら lists representative items, actions, or states as parts of a varied overall situation. It often suggests bustle, confusion, abundance, or mixed feelings, but it is not inherently negative.

How the list works

The listed examples are usually not meant as a complete inventory. They build up a picture, and the rest of the sentence summarizes what that combination was like. Because of this, the construction feels more expressive than a plain list.

Listing things

Noun lists often describe several tasks, objects, or events contributing to one overall result.

引ひっ越こし前まえは、荷に造づくりやら役やく所しょの手て続つづきやらで、毎まい日にち慌あわただしかった。

Before the move, packing, paperwork at city hall, and everything else made every day hectic.

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祝いわいの席せきには、花はなやら手て作づくりの料りょう理りやらが並ならび、部屋へや中じゅうが華はなやいだ。

Flowers, homemade dishes, and other festive things filled the celebration, brightening the whole room.

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Listing actions or states

Plain verbs and adjectives can also be listed. The final part of the sentence tells you how the speaker views the combination.

子こどもたちは走はしり回まわるやら大おお声ごえで歌うたうやらで、先せん生せいは落おち着つく暇ひまもなかった。

The children were running around, singing loudly, and generally causing such a commotion that the teacher had no time to relax.

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卒そつ業ぎょう式しきでは、うれしいやら寂さびしいやらで、うまく言こと葉ばにできなかった。

At the graduation ceremony, I felt both happy and sad and could not put my feelings into words.

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Mixed abundance versus dismissal

やら～やら emphasizes a varied collection of things or circumstances. By contrast, だの～だの readily quotes complaints, excuses, labels, or demands with a dismissive attitude.

彼かれは忙いそがしいだの疲つかれただのと言いって、手伝てつだおうとしない。

He keeps saying things like he is busy or tired and makes no attempt to help.

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Here the speaker dismisses the reasons as excuses rather than presenting them as parts of a varied scene.

More examples

書しょ類るいやら古ふるい写しゃ真しんやらが机つくえいっぱいに広ひろがっている。

Documents, old photographs, and all sorts of other things are spread across the entire desk.

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会かい場じょうでは拍はく手しゅやら歓かん声せいやらが沸わき起おこり、忘わすれられない夜よるになった。

Applause, cheers, and all the excitement erupted throughout the venue, making it an unforgettable night.

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電でん車しゃが遅おくれるやら雨あめが降ふり出だすやらで、約やく束そくに遅おくれてしまった。

Between the train running late and the rain starting, I ended up late for my appointment.

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親おや元もとを離はなれることになり、楽たのしみやら不ふ安あんやらで胸むねがいっぱいだ。

Now that I am going to leave home, my heart is full of excitement and anxiety.

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宴えん会かいでは、皆みんなが歌うたうやら踊おどるやらで、大おおいに盛もり上あがった。

At the party, everyone sang, danced, and had a wonderful time.

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移い転てん当とう日じつは、荷に物もつを運はこぶやら家か具ぐを組くみ立たてるやらで、休やすむ暇ひまもなかった。

On moving day, there was so much to do—carrying boxes, assembling furniture, and more—that there was no time to rest.

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