とか

と

か

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 100

Meanings

particle, conjunction

and the like; such as; among other things

Lists examples non-exhaustively, often in the pattern ...とか...とか. Used in casual and neutral speech.

休やすみの日ひは、映えい画がを見みるとか、本ほんを読よむとかして過すごす。
On my days off, I spend time doing things like watching movies or reading books.
好すきな食たべ物ものは、寿す司しとかラーメンとかです。
My favorite foods are things like sushi and ramen.

expression, particle

or something; something like; or whatever

Softens a statement, making it vague or less absolute. Sense 2 is often used with verbs like 言う or 聞く to convey hearsay; sense 4 is colloquial and typically follows a noun to add a casual, non-committal tone.

彼かれは病びょう気きだとか言いって、来こなかった。
He said he was sick or something and didn't come.
新あたらしいカフェとか行いってみない？
Wanna check out a new café or something?

expression, particle

I hear that; people say that; rumor has it that

Sentence-ending use that marks hearsay or uncertain information. Often implies the speaker is not fully committed to the truth of the statement.

明日あしたは雨あめが降ふるとか。
I hear it's going to rain tomorrow.
あの店みせ、閉へい店てんしたとか。
People say that store closed down.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉とか〈物もの〉とかthings like A and B (non-exhaustive list)
休やすみの日ひは映えい画がとか読どく書しょとかしています。
On my days off, I do things like watch movies or read books.
〈事こと〉とか言いうto say something like...
彼かれは忙いそがしいとか言いって来こなかった。
He said something about being busy and didn't come.
〈事こと〉とか聞きいたI heard that... (hearsay, vague)
来らい月げつ引ひっ越こすとか聞きいたけど本ほん当とう？
I heard something about you moving next month—is that true?
〈事こと〉とか。I hear that... (sentence-ending hearsay)
あの店みせ、今こん月げつ末まつで閉へい店てんするとか。
I hear that shop is closing at the end of this month.
〈物もの〉とか、どう？how about something like...? (casual suggestion)
週しゅう末まつ、ハイキングとかどう？
How about going hiking or something this weekend?

Grammar

Related words· 12

や sense 1
や is a more formal or written-style particle for listing a few examples, while とか is casual and can also add hearsay or vagueness.
など sense 1
など is the more formal equivalent of 'and so on' used in writing, whereas とか is common in casual speech and can soften a statement.
らしいN2sense 3
らしい reports hearsay with a slightly more neutral, written-friendly tone, while sentence-final とか is casual and implies the speaker isn't fully committed.
やら
とか is the common, casual listing particle for giving examples, while やら suggests a more chaotic or unwelcome mix of things.

Show 8 more

なり
なり in the 〈物〉なり sense politely suggests one example among options, while とか is a casual, everyday way of giving an example.
といった
とか is a casual, colloquial way to list examples, while といった is more formal and typical of written or structured descriptions.
たり
とか is a casual way to list examples of nouns or clauses, while たり is the standard grammatical pattern for listing representative actions, usually with 〜たりする.
だの
とか is a neutral, everyday listing particle, while だの carries a more casual, often complaining or dismissive tone.
なんぞ
とか is a casual listing particle used in everyday conversation for examples, whereas なんぞ carries an old-fashioned, slightly contemptuous flavor.
等とう々とう
とか is a casual spoken way to list examples loosely, whereas 等々 is more formal and used mainly in writing or formal speech.
なんて
とか is a casual listing particle without the emotional charge that なんて carries.
でもN5
とか also softens a suggestion like でも, but とか more often lists or quotes multiple example items rather than a single loose one.

Don't confuse with

なんかN1
とか is used for casually listing examples without necessarily belittling them, while なんか usually carries a dismissive or lowering-in-value nuance.

Etymology

Derived from the particle と combined with the question marker か, originally meaning 'or something like'. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the modern usage as a listing and hearsay particle is well-established.