“〜nari〜nari”: 〜 or 〜 (listing options) [JLPT N1]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
「先生なり親なりに相談して」「電話するなりメールするなり」 — offer a couple of options and urge picking one to act on.
「電話なりメールなり、連絡して」 — this or that, just pick one and do it
To tell someone “call or email — (pick one), just get in touch,” 「電話なりメールなり、連絡してください」 — 「〜なり〜なり」 = ～ or ～ (pick one from among them and do it). It often carries the advising, urging tone of “at least pick one and do it.” This guide clarifies its core of “listing options ＋ advice,” its typical use in advice sentences, and separating it from the parallel 「たり〜たり」 and the plain-choice 「か〜か」; it also warns against mixing it with the standalone 「なり (the instant ～).」
Core: ～ or ～, pick one (with the advice “pick one and do it”)
「verb dictionary form／noun ＋ なり ＋ verb dictionary form／noun ＋ なり」 means “～ or ～, either ～ or ～ (pick one from among them)” — listing two (or more) options for “any is fine, pick one and do it,” often with an advising, urging tone:
- 分からなければ、辞書で調べるなり、先生に聞くなりすればいい (if you don't get it, look it up in a dictionary or ask the teacher — just (pick one and) do it).
- 電話なりメールなりで、早めにご連絡ください (by phone or email, please get in touch soon).
- 疲れたなら、少し休むなり、飲み物でも飲むなりしたら? (if you're tired, rest a bit or have a drink — (pick one,) how about it?).
Feel: the core is “listing a few options, pick one to do,” often implying the advice, urging “don't just sit there — at least pick one and act.” Mostly in advice, command sentences (〜なり〜なりすればいい／しなさい／してください). There's also the form 「〜なりなんなり (～ or whatever).」 In English: “～ or ～, either ～ or ～ (pick one).” (The standalone 「なり」 means “the instant ～,” see 〈なり (the instant)〉.)
How it attaches
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| V-dict なり ＋ V-dict なり | ～ or ～ (pick an action) | 調べるなり聞くなり |
| noun なり ＋ noun なり | ～ or ～ (pick a noun) | 電話なりメールなり |
| 〜なりなんなり | ～ or whatever | 売るなりなんなりする （sell it or do whatever you like with it） |
Examples in use
- いらないものは、売るなり、捨てるなり、早く処分しなさい。(Things you don't need — sell them or throw them out, dispose of them quickly.)
- 週末は、映画を見るなり、買い物に行くなり、好きに過ごせばいい。(On weekends, watch a movie or go shopping — spend it however you like.)
- 困ったときは、私なり、田中さんなりに相談してね。(When in trouble, consult me or Tanaka.)
- 手紙なり、電話なり、何らかの方法で伝えるべきだ。(By letter or phone, you should convey it by some means.)
- 気に入らないなら、直すなりなんなりすればいい。(If you don't like it, fix it or whatever — just (do something about it).)
⚠️ Where learners slip up
① Separate it from 「たり〜たり」 — なり〜なり is ‘pick one and do it,' たり〜たり is ‘parallel, alternating, illustrative.' Both list, but differ in feel and function. 「〜なり〜なり」 = ～ or ～ (pick one from among them, with the advice ‘pick one'): 調べるなり聞くなりすればいい (look it up or ask — just (pick one and) do it — the point is “pick one of them”). It's “list options → pick one to do,” often with advice, urging. 「〜たり〜たり」 = doing ～ and ～, ～ and such (listing parallel, alternating, or illustrative actions, see 〈たり〜たり〉): 休日は本を読んだり、映画を見たりする (on days off I read and watch movies — doing these in parallel／alternation, not “pick just one”). It's “parallel, listing several (all being done or possible),” without “pick just one.” Difference: 「なり〜なり」 = pick one from among them (with advice); 「たり〜たり」 = parallel, alternating, illustrating several (see 〈たり〜たり〉). Test: to say “A or B, (as you like) pick one and do it” → なり〜なり; to say “doing A and B, and such” → たり〜たり.
② ⭐Often in advice, command sentences, with the urging ‘at least pick one and act.' This is 「なり〜なり」's important feel. It very often appears in advice, command sentences (〜なり〜なりすればいい／しなさい／してください／したら), implying the urging, advising tone of “don't just hesitate／complain — at least pick one and do it”: 文句を言う暇があったら、手伝うなり、代案を出すなりしなさい (if you have time to complain, help or offer an alternative — (pick one and) do it — with urging). So it's not just neutrally listing options; it often carries the prod of “come on, pick one and act.” Test: to advise, urge someone “(don't just wait) ～ or ～, pick one and do it” → なり〜なり is most vivid.
③ Separate it from 「か〜か」 — なり〜なり has an ‘advising, pick-either' tone, か〜か is a plain choice. Both can mean “A or B,” but differ in feel. 「〜なり〜なり」 = ～ or ～ (listing to pick from, with advice, urging, more written): バスなりタクシーなりで行けばいい (go by bus or taxi — (pick one), with the advice “as you like”). 「〜か〜か」 = A or B (a plain either-or, neutral): バスかタクシーかで行く (go by bus or taxi — plainly stating one of two options). Difference: 「なり〜なり」 has the advising, urging tone “pick either, at least do one,” more written; 「か〜か」 just plainly lists “A or B,” neutral. Test: to say with advice, urging “～ or ～, pick one” → なり〜なり; to just plainly say “A or B” → か〜か.
④ Don't mix it with the standalone 「なり (the instant ～).」 Note 「なり」 has two entirely different uses. The paired 「〜なり〜なり」 = ～ or ～ (this lesson, listing to pick from): 電話なりメールなり (by phone or email). The standalone 「verb dictionary form ＋ なり」 = the instant ～, immediately (see 〈なり (the instant)〉): 部屋に入るなり、倒れた (the instant he entered the room, he collapsed). The two look alike but mean entirely differently: appearing in pairs (A なり B なり) = pick one; appearing alone (V-る なり, followed by a sudden act) = the instant ～. Test: seeing two paired 「なり」 → pick one (this lesson); only one 「なり」 followed by a sudden reaction → the instant ～ (see 〈なり (the instant)〉).
🔄 Compare: なり〜なり／たり〜たり／か〜か／でも〜でも
| Form | Meaning | Emphasis | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜なり〜なり | ～ or ～ (pick one and do it) | advice, urging, more written | 調べるなり聞くなり |
| 〜たり〜たり | doing ～ and ～, ～ and such (see 〈たり〜たり〉) | parallel, alternating, illustrative | 読んだり見たり |
| 〜か〜か | A or B (either-or) | plain choice, neutral | バスかタクシーか |
| 〜でも〜でも | ～ or ～ (illustrative) | more colloquial illustration | お茶でもコーヒーでも |
💡 The key point in use
「〜なり〜なり」 = ～ or ～ (pick one from among them and do it) — four points: ① the core is “list options → pick one to do,” often with advice, urging; ②⭐very often in advice, command sentences (〜なり〜なりすればいい／しなさい), implying the prod “don't just wait, at least pick one and act”; ③ separate it from 「たり〜たり (parallel, alternating, illustrative, see 〈たり〜たり〉)」 — なり〜なり is “pick just one”; ④ don't mix it with the standalone 「なり (the instant ～, see 〈なり (the instant)〉)」. This pattern's most practical scene is giving advice, prompting action — 「文句を言う暇があったら、手伝うなり、代案を出すなりしなさい (if you have time to complain, better to help or offer a plan — pick one and do it)」 renders the prod “don't just sit there, pick one and get moving” crisply and forcefully.
❓ Common questions
Q: What's the difference between 「調べるなり聞くなりする」 and 「調べたり聞いたりする」?
The difference is ‘pick one and do it' vs ‘doing in parallel, alternation.' 「〜なり〜なり」 = ～ or ～ (pick one from among them, with advice): 「調べるなり聞くなりすればいい」 means “look it up (in a dictionary) or ask (the teacher) — (as you like) pick one of them to do” — the point being “from a few options, pick one to do,” often with the advice, urging “(don't just wait) at least pick one and act.” What it lists is “solutions you may pick one of.” 「〜たり〜たり」 = doing ～ and ～, ～ and such (parallel, alternating, or illustrative, see 〈たり〜たり〉): 「調べたり聞いたりする」 means “both looking up and asking (doing these things)” — the point being “doing these things in parallel, alternation” (both looking up and asking, or doing them repeatedly), not “pick just one.” Difference: 「なり〜なり」 = pick one from among them (pick-one ＋ advice); 「たり〜たり」 = doing several in parallel, alternation (see 〈たり〜たり〉). Test: to say “A or B, (as you like) pick one and do it” → なり〜なり; to say “doing both A and B, (repeatedly or illustratively) doing these” → たり〜たり. So advising someone to solve a problem “look it up or ask, pick one” uses 「なり〜なり」; describing a day off “reading and watching movies (doing in parallel)” uses 「たり〜たり.」
Q: Is the 「なり」 of 「電話なりメールなり」 the same as the 「なり」 of 「入るなり倒れた」?
No — they're two entirely different uses of 「なり.」 They look alike, but you can tell them apart by “whether they're paired” and “attachment, what follows.” ① The paired 「〜なり〜なり」 = ～ or ～ (listing to pick from, this lesson): two 「なり」 appear in pairs (A なり B なり), preceded by a verb dictionary form or noun, for “pick one from among them,” often followed by advice: 電話なりメールなり連絡して (call or email, get in touch), 休むなり帰るなりしたら (rest or go home — pick one, how about it). ② The standalone 「verb dictionary form ＋ なり」 = the instant ～, immediately (see 〈なり (the instant)〉): only one 「なり」, preceded by a verb dictionary form, followed by a sudden, involuntary reaction, for “the first act happens, the second follows at once”: 部屋に入るなり、倒れた (the instant he entered the room, he collapsed), 彼は私を見るなり、逃げ出した (the instant he saw me, he fled). Test trick: seeing two paired 「なり」 (Aなり Bなり) → pick-one “～ or ～” (this lesson); only one 「なり」 followed by a sudden act → “the instant ～” (see 〈なり (the instant)〉). So 「電話なりメールなり」 is the paired “pick one,” 「入るなり倒れた」 the standalone “the instant ～” — same form, different meaning.
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「困ったことがあれば、先生___親___に相談してみて。」(If you have trouble, try consulting a teacher or your parents)
(A) なり、なり (B) か、か (C) でも、でも (D) B is the most natural
Q2. 「謝る___説明する___、何かしないといけないよ。」(Whether apologizing or explaining, you have to do something)
(A) なり、なり (B) か、か (C) でも、でも (D) から、から
Q3. 「なり〜なり」の語感の特徴は？
(A) 2つの選択肢を中性に並べる
(B) 「こっちでもあっちでも（どちらでも）」と選択肢を提示し、行動を促す
(C) 否定文のみに使う
(D) 書面語のみ
Q4. 「早く連絡する___、会いに行く___してほしい。」(I want you to call soon or go and see them)
(A) なり、なり (B) か、か (C) し、し (D) ば、ば
Q5. 「なり〜なり」後半の文に来やすいのは？
(A) だから・なので（理由）
(B) 〜してください・〜しなさい・なんとかして（要求・催促）
(C) 〜したい（欲求）
(D) 〜だろう（推量）
Answer Explanations
1. (A) なり、なり ── 「先生なり親なりに相談してみて」(try consulting a teacher or your parents) = なり〜なり presenting options / a suggestion → なり〜なり (with a nudging feel of "go talk to someone").
2. (A) なり、なり ── 「謝るなり説明するなり」(apologizing or explaining, either way), 「何かしないといけない」(you have to do something) = a typical use of なり〜なり: urging, with a demand as the follow-up.
3. (B) ── The feel of なり〜なり: presenting two (or more) options and saying "either is fine, go do it," with a tone of urging / suggesting that the other person take action.
4. (A) なり、なり ── 「連絡するなり会いに行くなりしてほしい」(call or go see them, I'm asking you) = なり〜なり + a request (してほしい).
5. (B) ── なり〜なり is often followed by 「〜してください」(please do), 「〜しなさい」(do it), 「何かして」(do something), etc. — a demanding / urging tone, because なり〜なり itself is about prompting the other person to act.