GRAMMAR
〜というか〜というか
or rather
Explanation
NOTE
〜というか〜というか means perhaps X, perhaps Y — used to give two overlapping descriptions when one word alone isn't enough.
彼はやさしいというか、お人好しというか、よく騙される。
He's kind, or maybe just naive — he often gets tricked.
Use this when neither word alone captures the nuance — both apply.
NOTE
The two terms are usually near-synonyms or related shades of the same idea. A final summary often follows.
NOTE
Use with nouns and the plain form of adjectives. Often expresses the speaker's hesitation or uncertainty in choosing the right word.
STRUCTURE
N/Adj辞というかN/Adj辞というか
あの映画はこわいというか、気持ち悪いというか、もう見たくない。
Ano eiga wa kowai to iu ka, kimochi warui to iu ka, mou mitakunai.
That movie was scary, or maybe just disgusting — I don't want to see it again.
彼女は天才というか、変人というか、ふつうではない。
Kanojo wa tensai to iu ka, henjin to iu ka, futsuu de wa nai.
She's a genius, or maybe an eccentric — she's certainly not ordinary.
この料理は甘いというか、辛いというか、ふしぎな味だ。
Kono ryouri wa amai to iu ka, karai to iu ka, fushigi na aji da.
This dish is sweet, or maybe spicy — it has a strange taste.
Practice exercises
1
彼は真面目というか、融通が利かないというか、変な人だというものだ。
He's diligent, or rather, inflexible, or rather, he's a strange person.
Answer
というか
2
成功するにしろ失敗するにしろ、彼の行動は大胆というか、無謀というか、普通じゃない。
Whether he succeeds or fails, his actions are bold, or rather, reckless, or rather, not normal.
Answer
というか
3
彼の態度は無礼というか、傲慢というか、理解できない。
His attitude is rude, or rather, arrogant, or rather, I can't understand it.
Answer
というか
4
この感情は悲しいというか、懐かしいというか、複雑で言葉にできない。
This feeling is sad, or rather, nostalgic, or rather, it's so complex I can't put it into words.
Answer
というか
5
彼は頭もいいというか、性格もいいというか、完璧な人だ。
He's smart, or rather, has a good personality, or rather, he's a perfect person.
Answer
というか