やら (self-addressed question)

• 読み: やら
• ローマ字: yara
• 形: Question word + やら / Verb plain form + やら / Phrase + の + やら

意味

A sentence-final particle that marks a self-addressed question or expression of uncertainty. The speaker wonders about something without expecting an answer, conveying bewilderment, worry, or resignation.

やら as a sentence-final particle expresses the speaker's internal uncertainty or wondering. Unlike a direct question with か, which typically seeks an answer, やら signals that the speaker is mulling over something they cannot resolve. It often pairs with question words like 何やら, どうやら, いつやら to intensify the sense of vagueness. The tone is often tinged with anxiety, exasperation, or helpless wondering. It is more commonly used in writing and slightly formal spoken contexts than in very casual conversation. When doubled (やら...やら), it instead functions as an inexhaustive listing particle, which is a separate usage.

例文

1. この先どうなることやら、見当もつかない。
2. 彼がいつ戻ってくるやら、誰にもわからない。
3. 何が原因やら、機械が突然止まってしまった。

使い方ガイド

場面: spoken, written, literary

トーン: uncertain

正しい言い方

• 新制度がうまく機能するやら、現場は不安を抱えている。
• 試験の結果がどうなるやら、落ち着かない日々を過ごしている。
• 彼女が本当に賛成しているのやら、表情からは読み取れない。

避ける言い方

• 明日は何時に来るやら？(Using やら as a direct question to the listener — やら is for self-addressed wondering, not requesting information) → 明日は何時に来るのだろうか。
• どこやら行きたい。(Confusing やら with か — やら does not function as an indefinite marker meaning 'somewhere') → どこかに行きたい。

起源と歴史

やら derives from the classical particle やら, which itself is a combination of the question/exclamation particle や and the conjunctive particle ら. In classical Japanese, や functioned as both a question marker and an emotional exclamation, and this self-reflective questioning use has been preserved.

文化的背景

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal