Different Ways to Say "And" in Japanese
In Japanese, there are several ways to say "and" depending on the type of words you are connecting. Here are the most common forms, along with details on their usage and examples.
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First, here is a cheat sheet. Please glance over it, but don't worry. We'll go through each connector in more detail below.
Connector | Usage | Exhaustive List? | Formality | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
と | Connects nouns | Yes | Neutral | わたしはリンゴとバナナが好きです。 (I like bananas and apples.) | Directly connects nouns. Not used with adjectives, verbs, or adverbs |
や | Lists representative examples (nouns) | No | Neutral | かばんの中に本や雑誌があります。 (There are books and magazines in the bag.) | Implies the list is not exhaustive. |
し | Connects phrases/sentences; used with adjectives, verbs, and sentences | No | Neutral | このケーキは美味しいし、安いです。 (This cake is delicious and cheap.) | Often used in pairs, implies additional unspoken reasons. |
て Form | Connects verbs and adjectives in sequence | Yes | Neutral | 彼はご飯を食べて、学校に行きました。 (He had breakfast and went to school.) | Describes consecutive actions or characteristics. |
~たり | Lists non-exhaustive actions or states (verbs) | No | Casual to Neutral | 週末は映画を見たり、本を読んだりします。 (On weekends, I watch movies, read books, among other things.) | Typically used in pairs with する at the end. |
とか | Lists items or actions in an informal, conversational, and vague manner | No | Casual | 彼は犬とか猫とかを飼たいと言っています。 (He said he has dogs, cats, etc.) | Similar to や, but more informal and often implies an incomplete list. |
など | Lists items or actions, indicating that the list is not exhaustive (nouns, verbs) | No | Formal | 彼は本や雑誌などを読みます。 (He reads books, magazines, etc.) | Similar to や, but more formal. Often used in writing. |
Additional Notes:
- と is the most straightforward way to connect two nouns.
- や suggests there are other items not mentioned, making the list non-exhaustive.
- し can give reasons or add additional information, often leading to an unspoken conclusion.
- て form is useful for showing sequences of actions or multiple characteristics.
- ~たり is used to list actions or states, indicating that there are more activities not mentioned, often used in a casual context.
- とか is used similarly to や, but in a more casual and conversational way, indicating an incomplete list.
- など is used to indicate that the list is not exhaustive and can include other similar items, often found in both written and spoken Japanese.
Okay, maybe not incredibly easy, but just learn example sentences and you'll be using these "ands" in no time.
Let's go through these a little closer...
と
Usage: Connects nouns exclusively, forming a comprehensive and closed list. Not used with adjectives, verbs, or adverbs.
Example with nouns:
リンゴとバナナ
apples and bananas
Complete sentence:
私はリンゴとバナナが好きです。
I like apples and bananas.
Note: The connector と is the most direct way to link two nouns, denoting a complete and exhaustive list. It is used primarily in neutral contexts. It is straightforward but limited to nouns, making it essential for learners to master for basic list-making.
や
Usage: Lists representative examples of nouns, suggesting there are other unspecified items also included in the list.
Example with nouns:
本や雑誌
books and magazines and such
Complete sentence:
鞄の中に本や雑誌があります。
There are things like books and magazines in the bag.
Note: や is used to create a non-exhaustive list of nouns, hinting that other items might also be included. This connector is suitable for instances where the speaker does not intend to list every possible item. Ideal for informal discussions where the speaker wants to remain non-specific. It is less formal than など but offers a similar sense of an incomplete list.
し
Usage: Connects sentences or phrases that provide multiple reasons or characteristics, often implying a conclusion. Commonly used in pairs and applicable to adjectives, verbs, and complete sentences. Even in the absence of a clear conclusion, the use of し often points toward an unspoken conclusion or underlying idea.
Examples:
Example with い-adjectives:
このケーキは美味しいし、安いです。
This cake is delicious and cheap.
Unspoken conclusion → this cake is a good cake/I love this cake
Example with な-adjectives:
彼女は親切だし、賢いです。
She is kind and intelligent
Unspoken conclusion → She is a very great person/ I like her
Example with verbs:
日本語も勉強するし、友達とも遊ぶ。
I study Japanese and hang out with friends.
Unspoken conclusion → the subject(“I”) is well balanced or tries to balance his life.
Complete sentence:
昨日は雨だったし、寒かったです。
It rained yesterday, and it was cold.
Unspoken conclusion → The weather was not good yesterday.
Note: Functioning similarly to "on top of that" or "not only" in English, し enables a nuanced accumulation of thoughts, making it a versatile connector for detailed and complex expressions in Japanese.
て form
Usage: Connects verbs and adjectives in a sequence, detailing consecutive actions or characteristics. The て form shows a sequence of actions or describing multiple attributes consecutively. It is not suitable for nouns or adverbs alone.
Formation
For verbs: Change to て-form
食べる → 食べて
to eat → eat and...
Example with verbs:
食べて、寝て、勉強する
eat, sleep, and study
For い-adjectives: Drop い and add くて
広い → 広くて
wide → wide and...
Example with い-adjectives:
この部屋は広くて、明るいです。
This room is spacious and bright.
For な-adjectives: Add で
静か → 静かで
quiet → quiet and...
Example with な-adjectives:
彼女は静かで、優しいです。
She is quiet and kind.
彼は朝ごはんを食べて、学校に行きました。
He had breakfast and went to school.
Note: The て form is very common in daily conversation to describe consecutive actions and multiple characteristics.
~たり
Usage: Lists non-exhaustive actions or states, usually ending with する to imply various activities. Implies "among other things" and gives a casual and inclusive feel.
Formation:
Take the plain past form (た form) of a verb and add り
Examples:
Example with verbs:
映画を見たり、本を読んだりする
watch movies, read books, etc.
週末は映画を見たり、本を読んだりします。
On weekends, I watch movies, read books, among other things.
Note: たり implies that there are other activities besides those mentioned, and it is common in casual conversation.
とか
Usage: Similar to や, but more colloquial. Lists examples in a vague or uncertain manner. It lists examples without any commitment to an exhaustive enumeration, perfect for informal, everyday conversation.
Examples:
1. Example with nouns:
犬とか猫とか
dogs, cats, etc.
彼は犬とか猫とかを飼いたいと言っています。
He said he wants to get a dog or cat or something.
2. Example with verbs:
食べるとか飲むとか
eat, drink, etc. eat and drink and etc.
彼はパーティーで食べるとか飲むとかしません。
At the party, he doesn’t eat, drink, etc.
Notes: Its informal tone makes とか suitable for spoken Japanese, where precision is less critical than in formal or written contexts.
など
Usage: Indicates a non-exhaustive list of items or actions, often used in more formal or written Japanese.
Examples with など:
1. Example with nouns:
本や雑誌など
books, magazines, etc.
彼は本や雑誌などを読みます。
He reads books, magazines, etc.
2. Example with verbs:
映画を見るなど
watch movies, etc.
週末には映画を見るなどします。
On weekends, he watches movies, etc.
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私は日本料理が好きだし、フランス料理やイタリア料理も好きです。
I like Japanese food, and I also like French and Italian food.
Note: し is best used in the first clause to justify the additional statement, and や is more appropriate for listing representative items.
2. や + し:
公園でランニングやサイクリングをしたし、ピクニックも楽しみました。
I went jogging and cycling in the park, and I also enjoyed a picnic.
3. て + し:
昨日は映画を見て、友達とも話したし、とても楽しかったです。
Yesterday, I watched a movie, also talked with my friends, and it was very enjoyable.
4. たり + と:
週末は買い物をしたり、料理を作ったりして、友達と楽しい時間を過ごしました。
Over the weekend, I went shopping, cooked, and had a good time with my friends.
5. て + たり:
午前中に勉強して、午後は映画を見たり、本を読んだりしました。
I studied in the morning, and in the afternoon, I watched a movie, read a book, among other things.
Yeah! You made it through all the examples, and you've learned a bit about "and" in Japanese!
Now, go out into the wild (the internet) and try to find a few more examples. Analyze them and think how you can use them!
If you are a Makoto+ member, please click here for your bonus content including a PDF of this lesson, the sound files, and an exclusive exercise worksheet.
Ahem. If you are not a member, please click here to learn more. Members get so much!
