～の～のと

• Reading: ののと
• Romaji: no ~ no to
• Formation: Clause A + の + Clause B + のと

Meaning

A structure used to quote what someone says or complains about, conveying the speaker's annoyance, exasperation, or dismissive attitude toward those repeated complaints or excuses.

～の～のと presents paraphrased or representative examples of what someone has been saying, usually to express that the speaker finds those remarks tiresome, unreasonable, or excessive. The two clauses before の represent the gist of the complaints, not exact quotes. It is similar to ～とか～とか in listing examples but carries a distinctly negative, fed-up tone. The structure often ends with expressions like うるさい, 言っている, or 文句を言う. It can also appear as ～の～のって in more casual speech. This pattern is primarily used in spoken Japanese and informal writing.

Examples

1. 忙しいの疲れたのと言って、家事を全くしない。 Saying things like 'I'm busy' or 'I'm tired,' he doesn't do any housework at all.
2. 暑いの寒いのと文句ばかり言っている。 He's always complaining about it being too hot or too cold.
3. 給料が安いの残業が多いのと、彼は不満を並べ立てた。 He lined up complaints about the pay being low and the overtime being excessive.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, casual-writing

Tone: exasperated

Do Say

• 眠いの体がだるいのと言い訳して、毎朝遅刻してくる。
• 味が薄いの量が少ないのと、注文するたびに文句を言う。
• 危ないの心配だのと親は口うるさい。

Don't Say

• 美味しいの楽しいのと、旅行は最高だった。(Using ～の～のと for positive sentiments — this pattern conveys annoyance, not praise) → 美味しいし楽しいし、旅行は最高だった。
• 彼が来るの来ないのと。(Ending abruptly without expressing the speaker's reaction or judgment) → 彼が来るの来ないのと、周囲を振り回している。

Origin & History

Built from the nominalising particle の repeated to represent multiple quoted statements, followed by the quotative particle と. The pattern crystallised in colloquial Japanese as a way to summarise and dismiss someone's persistent complaints.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal