NounやNoun
What Does “や” Mean in Japanese?
Hello everyone who is studying Japanese!
Let’s do our best together today!
Today’s Japanese grammar point is “Noun や Noun”
We use this grammar when we want to give a few examples, but not list everything.
It is very useful when there are many things.
For example, imagine you went to a supermarket and bought a lot of items.
Telling someone everything you bought can be a little troublesome, right?
In situations like that, “Noun や Noun” is perfect!
Example:
I bought things like meat and fish at the supermarket.
There is a similar grammar pattern called “Noun と Noun”
We use “Noun と Noun” when we want to list all of the things.
On the other hand, “Noun や Noun” is used when we give only a few examples, not everything.
So please remember this important difference:
- Noun と Noun → list everything
- Noun や Noun → list a few examples only
Keep this in mind, and you’ll use Japanese more naturally!
Examples You Use Every Day
あなた：夏休みに何をしますか。
友だち：国へかえります。あなたは？
あなた：日本をりょこうします。大阪や京都へ行きたいです。
You: What are you going to do during summer vacation?
Friend: I’m going to go back to my country. How about you?
You: I’m going to travel in Japan.
I want to visit places like Osaka and Kyoto.
客：すみません。かばんがありますか。
店員：はい。何色がいいですか。
客：いろいろ見たいんですが、赤やピンクはありますか？
Customer: Excuse me. Do you have bags?
Clerk: Yes, we do. What color are you looking for?
Customer: I’d like to look at a few, but do you have colors like red or pink?
You Did It! Now You Can Use “と” with Confidence
Great job today!
Do you have a clear image of how to use “Noun や Noun” now?
Today’s grammar point is one of the particles that Japanese people use very often in daily life, so let’s do our best to remember it!
In Japanese, if you make a mistake with particles, the meaning can change completely.
It may feel difficult at first, but don’t worry.
Practice a little every day, and you’ll be able to use them correctly before you know it!
For Japanese Teachers
Today, we explained the Japanese grammar pattern “Noun や Noun”
As mentioned above, the most important point to keep in mind is how to distinguish this pattern from “Noun と Noun”
In addition, depending on the learners’ native language, the grammar that corresponds to “Noun や Noun” may differ significantly from how it is used in Japanese.
For this reason, it is important to adjust your explanation according to the learners’ linguistic background.
