Japanese grammar
What does ～や mean? Japanese grammar N5
～や means ~ and ~ (lists examples, not exhaustive).
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N5 |
|---|---|
| Structure | N1 や N2 (など) |
| Romaji | ~ ya |
| Meaning | ~ and ~ (lists examples, not exhaustive) |
How to use it
List a few representative examples, implying there are more.
- Unlike と (an exhaustive list), や implies "and other things too".
- Often accompanied by など at the end to emphasize "and so on".
Examples
かばんの中に本やノートがあります。
There are books, notebooks, and so on in the bag.
休みの日は音楽や映画を楽しみます。
On days off I enjoy music, movies, and so on.
Common mistakes
-
Wrongパンや牛乳を買いました。（when buying exactly those 2 things）
Correctパンと牛乳を買いました。
When buying exactly 2 things, listing them exhaustively → use と. や implies there are other things too.