GRAMMAR
〜や
and ~ (non-finite list)
Explanation
NOTE
The particle や means and but implies the list is not complete. It suggests there are more items beyond what you mentioned — like saying things like A and B.
NOTE
Use や between nouns when you want to give examples without listing everything. Compare: と = complete list (A and B, that is all), や = partial list (A and B, among others).
STRUCTURE
... や ...
本やノートやペンがある。
Hon ya nōto ya pen ga aru.
There are books, notebooks, pens, and such.
りんごやバナナを買った。
Ringo ya banana o katta.
I bought apples, bananas, and so on.
日本やフランスに行きたい。
Nihon ya Furansu ni ikitai.
I want to go to places like Japan and France.
Example sentences
机の上に本やペンがあります。
There are books, pens, and so on, on the desk.
スーパーでりんごやバナナを買いました。
I bought apples, bananas, and so on, at the supermarket.
休みの日には、公園や図書館へ行きます。
On holidays, I go to parks, libraries, and so on.
Practice exercises
1
猫や犬が好きです。
I like things such as cats and dogs.
Answer
や
2
本やノートを買った。
I bought things like books and notebooks.
Answer
や
3
魚や肉を食べた。
I ate things like fish and meat.
Answer
や
4
りんごやバナナを買った。
I bought apples, bananas, and so on.
Answer
や
5
日本やフランスに行きたい。
I want to go to places like Japan and France.
Answer
や
6
犬や猫が好きです。
I like things like dogs and cats.
Answer
や
7
本やノートやペンがある。
There are books, notebooks, pens, and such.
Answer
や
8
数学や英語を勉強しています。
I am studying things like math and English.
Answer
や