や
Meanings
- and things like that
- and the like
- and other things
- items such as
About this pattern
Explanation
や is used to connect two or more items to show that the list is not exhaustive. It implies that there are other similar items not explicitly mentioned. It’s common in casual or conversational speech and is similar in meaning to など, but with a softer, more incomplete sense of the list. It is not used for precise enumeration or for the final item with ‘and’ as in English; the implication is that there are more things beyond what is stated.
Learn in context
Example sentences
I bought fruits and vegetables (and other things).
He is studying Japanese, English, and so on.
I bought a TV and books (among other things).
I enjoy movies, music, and so on on weekends.
I met Suzuki and Tanaka, among others.
Keep studying
More N5 patterns
to be; is; equals; identifies as
View detailsto be; is; am; used to state something politely
View detailsAs for... (highlights sentence topic); Topic marker used to indicate what the sentence is about; Marks the topic of the sentence, sometimes with contrast
View detailsalso; too; as well; even; either; neither
View detailsthis (near the speaker); this thing; this one
View detailsthat; that thing (near the listener); the thing referred to earlier
View details