や (non-exhaustive listing)

• Reading: や
• Romaji: ya
• Formation: Noun + や + Noun + (など) + Particle

Meaning

A coordinate conjunction used to list two or more nouns or noun phrases, implying that the listed items are representative examples and that additional unlisted items exist. It translates roughly as 'and' or 'things like... and...'

Unlike と, which creates a complete, exhaustive list, や signals that the items mentioned are only some of many possibilities. りんごやみかんを買った suggests you bought apples, oranges, and possibly other things too, whereas りんごとみかんを買った means you bought exactly apples and oranges. や is often paired with など to further emphasise the non-exhaustive nature: りんごやみかんなどを買った. This particle connects only nouns and noun phrases — it cannot join verbs or adjectives. For listing actions non-exhaustively, use たり...たりする instead. Learners sometimes use や where と is needed for a definite, closed list. A useful guideline: if you mean 'specifically A and B and nothing else,' use と; if you mean 'A and B among other things,' use や.

Examples

1. 机の上に本やノートがある。 There are books and notebooks and such on the desk.
2. 休みの日は映画や音楽を楽しみます。 On my days off, I enjoy things like films and music.
3. 東京や大阪に友達がいます。 I have friends in Tokyo, Osaka, and other places.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 冷蔵庫に牛乳や卵が入っている。
• 週末は買い物や散歩をします。
• 日本語や英語を話せます。

Don't Say

• 走るや泳ぐが好きです。(Using や to connect verbs — や can only connect nouns) → 走ったり泳いだりするのが好きです。
• 赤いや青いペンを買った。(Using や between adjectives — や can only connect nouns or noun phrases) → 赤いペンや青いペンを買った。

Origin & History

や as a listing particle has roots in classical Japanese, where it appeared in poetry and prose to link nouns in an open-ended enumeration. Its non-exhaustive nuance has remained consistent from the Heian period through to modern usage.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal