やら〜やら
Whether or, Things like, And … so on
Structure
(1) Verb［る］、Noun、［い］Adjective
Explanation
The adverbial particle やら is used to list examples in a non-exhaustive or somewhat disorganized way. Because it indicates that the speaker is not providing a complete or definitive list, it often translates to 'things like (A)', '(A) and what not', or '(A) and so on', similar to など.
やら can be attached to dictionary form verbs, nouns, い-Adjectives, and な-Adjectives. When used in the pattern (A) やら (B) やら, both (A) and (B) are usually the same part of speech. This guideline is often relaxed, however, when a speaker is listing a jumble of different feelings or situations.
- レポートを書くやら試験の準備をするやらで、今週は寝る時間がない。This week I have no time to sleep, with things like writing reports and preparing for exams.
- 引っ越したばかりで、部屋は狭いやら汚いやらで、まだ片付いていない。I just moved, so the room is small, messy, and what not, and I haven't finished tidying up yet.
- コンサートの後、興奮やら喜びやらで、なかなか眠れなかった。With all the excitement, joy, and so on, I couldn't get to sleep after the concert.
- 旅行の前に、パスポートやらチケットやら、大切なものを確認してください。Before your trip, please check important items such as your passport, tickets, and so forth.
In comparison to とか, やら tends to suggest a greater, more chaotic or overwhelming variety of items. It implies that (A) and (B) are just a couple of examples taken from a much larger, often disorganized, set of things like actions, objects, or emotions.
Caution
In the form のやら～のやら, this structure highlights the speaker's uncertainty about which of the two options is true. It presents both (A) and (B) as possibilities because the speaker is unsure. For this reason, (A) and (B) are frequently antonyms or contrasting ideas, though this is not a strict rule.
- その店はまだ開いているのやらもう閉まっているのやら、よく分からない。I'm not sure whether that shop is still open or already closed.
- この話は本当なのやら嘘なのやら、判断できない。I can't tell if this story is true or false.
Examples
娘が家を出て行ったときは、寂しいやらほっとしたやらで複雑な気持ちだった。
When my daughter moved out, I had mixed feelings, being both lonely and relieved.
試合に負けて、悔しいやら情けないやらで、涙が止まらなかった。
After losing the game, I felt a mix of frustration and shame, and the tears just wouldn't stop.
週末は引っ越しの準備やら部屋の片付けやらで、全然休めなかった。
This weekend, with preparing for the move and tidying up my room and all that, I couldn't rest at all.
風邪をひいたのか、熱が出るやら咳が出るやらで散々な一日だった。
I must have caught a cold; what with having a fever and a cough and so on, it was a terrible day.
犬を飼うと、餌やらおもちゃやらで意外とお金がかかる。
When you own a dog, you spend a surprising amount of money on things like food and toys.
赤ちゃんが生まれるので、おむつやらミルクやら、買うものがたくさんある。
Since the baby is about to be born, there are lots of things to buy, such as diapers and formula.
卒業パーティーの後は、喜ぶ人やら泣き出す人やらで、とてもにぎやかだった。
After the graduation party, it was very lively, with some people celebrating happily and others bursting into tears, and so on.
うちの猫は、机の上のペンやら書類やらを落として、いつもいたずらばかりしている。
My cat is always making mischief, knocking things like pens and papers off the desk.
電車に乗り遅れそうで、朝食やら着替えやらで、朝は大急ぎだった。
I was in a huge rush this morning, what with breakfast and getting dressed and everything, because I was about to miss my train.
突然の停電で、テレビが消えるやらパソコンが使えないやらで大混乱だった。
During the sudden power outage, the TV went off, the computer was unusable, and so on; it was total chaos.
先生：「山田くん、どうして遅刻したんだい？」
山田くん：「すみません、寝坊するやら財布を忘れるやらで…」
Teacher: 'Yamada, why are you late?'
Yamada: 'I'm sorry... what with oversleeping, forgetting my wallet, and all that...'
Ａ：「最近、疲れてるみたいだね。」
Ｂ：「うん、残業やら人間関係やらでストレスがたまってるんだ。」
A: 'You seem tired lately.'
B: 'Yeah, I'm getting stressed out from overtime, workplace relationships, and things like that.'