JLPT N5Everyday

やand (among other things)

や is "and" for a list you haven't finished. You name two or three things as examples, and there are more you could have named.

スーパーでパンや卵たまごを買かいました。

I bought bread, eggs, and a few other things at the supermarket.

机つくえの上うえに本ほんやノートなどがあります。

There are books, notebooks and other things on the desk.

How to form it

Noun + や + noun（+ など）

Nouns only. The particle comes once, after the last noun. など at the end puts the "and so on" into words.

Before and after it: Nouns: things, people, places, activities. No や after the last one.
How many: Two is usual. With three, や goes between each: 本ほんやノートやペン.
Where you'll meet it: Writing, explanations and polite conversation. Chatting with friends, people more often say とか.

In use

朝あさはパンや果物くだものを食たべます。

In the morning, I eat things like bread and fruit.

引ひき出だしにペンやはさみが入はいっています。

There are pens, scissors, and similar items in the drawer.

デパートでシャツや靴くつを見みました。

I looked at shirts, shoes, and other items at the department store.

Two things to know

と closes the list, や leaves it open

兄あにと姉あねが来きました。

My older brother and older sister came.

Those two, and nobody else.

兄あにや姉あねが来きました。

My older brother, older sister, and some others came.

Those two, and others as well.

When you have named everything, it is と.

Only between nouns

A list of things you do takes たり.

Not said: 休やすみの日ひは本ほんを読よむや、映えい画がを見みます。

(On my days off I read, watch films and so on.)

本ほんを読よんだり、映えい画がを見みたりします.

Close neighbours

とN5

"And" when you name every item: these and nothing more.

かばんに財さい布ふと鍵かぎを入いれました。

I put my wallet and keys in the bag.

たり～たりするN5

The open list for things you do.

週しゅう末まつは庭にわを掃そう除じしたり、パンを焼やいたりします。

On weekends, I do things like clean the garden and bake bread.

とか～とかN4

The same open list in casual talk.

旅りょ行こうには、着き替がえとか薬くすりとかを持もっていきます。

On trips I take things like a change of clothes and medicine.

などN4

"And so on". It can follow a single example, where や needs two.

休きゅう憩けい用ように、お茶ちゃなどを用よう意いしました。

I've got tea and other things ready for the break.

Check yourself

1Which one fits?

今日きょうの授じゅ業ぎょうは、日本にほん語ご（　　）数すう学がくの二ふたつです。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which sentence is right?

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

At the end of a sentence や is something else. In Kansai speech it stands in for だ: そうや, "that's right". And まあ、いいや is "oh well, never mind".

More sentences

休きゅう日じつは読どく書しょや料りょう理りを楽たのしみます。

On my days off, I enjoy activities such as reading and cooking.

教きょう室しつには先せん生せいや学がく生せいが集あつまりました。

Teachers, students, and others gathered in the classroom.

棚たなには辞じ書しょや地ち図ずがあります。

There are dictionaries, maps and other things on the shelf.

Compared with similar forms

"And" and "things like": joining things and actions