Translated examples
本やノートを買います。
I buy books, notebooks, and similar things.
机の上にペンや本があります。
There are pens, books, and other things on the desk.
果物や野菜などを食べます。
I eat things such as fruit and vegetables.
東京や京都に行きました。
I went to places including Tokyo and Kyoto.
休みの日は掃除や洗濯をします。
On days off I do tasks such as cleaning and laundry.
パンと牛乳を買いました。
I bought bread and milk.
や links representative items: 本やノート means books, notebooks, and similar things. など can make the “and so on” meaning explicit. Use this when your purpose is to give examples rather than enumerate every member of a set.
Formation and use
The nouns before and after や share one grammatical role: 本やノートを買います. The object particle comes after the list, not after every noun in this basic structure.
など is optional in many lists: 果物や野菜を食べます and 果物や野菜などを食べます both give examples. It is not necessary to force など into every や sentence.
Comparisons and common errors
Compare と when explicitly listing the relevant items. The contrast is about how the list is presented, not a guarantee about everything in the speaker’s life.
や in this use joins nouns. For examples of activities use たり〜たりする. Avoid treating the English word “and” as a reason to use the same Japanese connector everywhere.
Practise with explanations
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History and self-check answers
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