“to ka” Meaning & Usage — “…and Stuff / I Heard…” (colloquial) [JLPT N4]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

“Ramen and pizza and such,” “I heard he got a girlfriend” — toka's three casual uses (listing, hearsay, softening), with examples. (JLPT N4)

「映画とか買い物とか」 — the colloquial “…and stuff” 「〜とか」

「週末は、映画とか買い物とかする」 (on weekends I do movies and shopping and stuff) — 「とか」 is a super-common colloquial word with a “vague, non-committal” feel. Three uses: ① incomplete listing (…and stuff, examples not exhausted); ② hearsay quoting (〜とか言ってた = said something like…); ③ softening a single example. This guide covers 「とか」's three uses and separates it from the listing 「と／や」.

Core: the colloquial “and stuff,” vague and non-committal

「とか」 = colloquial “…and stuff,” vague, not pinning things down:

• ① Incomplete listing (examples, there's more): 映画とか買い物とか (movies and shopping and stuff).
• ② Hearsay quoting (said something like): 転職するとか言ってた (said something like changing jobs).
• ③ A single example, softened: ちょっと休むとかしたら？ (how about taking a break or something?).

Feel: don't pin it down, leave room (more colloquial and vaguer than と／や).

How to Connect

例句解析

• 週末は、映画とか買い物とかして過ごす。(I spend weekends on movies and shopping and stuff.) — incomplete listing
• 田中さんが転職するとか、聞いたよ。(I heard something like Tanaka's changing jobs.) — hearsay
• ラーメンとかピザとか、好きなものを食べよう。(Ramen, pizza, and such — let's eat what you like.) — listing
• 疲れたなら、少し休むとかしたら？(If you're tired, how about resting a bit or something?) — softened suggestion
• 「行きたくない」とか言ってた。(He said something like “I don't want to go.”) — quoting

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① 「とか」 is colloquial — use 「や／など」 in formal settings. とか has a casual, vague feel; formal/written listing uses 「〜や〜など」 (映画や買い物など). とか is for chatting.

② 「とか」 vs 「と」 vs 「や」. と = complete listing (that's all: AとB); や = partial listing (a few representatives, written: AやB); とか = colloquial incomplete listing (casual examples, there's more, the vaguest: AとかB). Vagueness: とか ＞ や ＞ と.

③ 「〜とか言ってた」 = said something like… (with uncertainty/reserve). Relaying someone, 「とか」 signals “(roughly) said…, I'm not certain/won't pin it down” (彼、来ないとか言ってた = he said something like he's not coming). Softer and more reserved than a direct quote.

🔄 Compare with similar forms: とか／と／や

💡 Learning tip

「とか」 is one of the soul-words of daily conversation — its essence is “vague, non-committal.” Three uses: ① incomplete listing (映画とか買い物とか = movies and shopping and stuff, implying more); ② hearsay quoting (〜とか言ってた = said something like…, reserved); ③ softened suggestion (休むとかしたら？ = how about resting or something, gentle). Vs 「と／や」: と = list it all, や = written examples, とか = colloquial vague. Japanese speakers love とか to leave room and not pin things down — an important “read-the-air culture” nuance. Only formal/written swaps to 「や／など」. Using とか makes your speech much softer.

❓ Quick FAQ

Q: How do I tell the listing とか／と／や apart?

By completeness and register. 「と」 = complete listing (that's all, nothing else: りんごとみかんを買った = I bought apples and oranges, just those two). 「や〜など」 = partial listing (a few representatives, implying more, written: りんごやみかんなど = apples, oranges, etc.). 「とか」 = colloquial incomplete listing (casual examples, there's more, the vaguest, most casual: りんごとかみかんとか = apples and oranges and stuff). Vagueness/casualness: とか ＞ や ＞ と. Chatting → とか, formal/written → や／など, “that's all” → と.

Q: What's the feel of 「〜とか言ってた」?

「〜とか言ってた」 = “said something like…,” relaying someone with 「とか」 to signal uncertainty, reserve, not pinning it down. E.g. 「彼、来ないとか言ってた (he said something like he's not coming)」 — compared to the direct 「彼は来ないと言った (he said he's not coming)」, adding 「とか」 softens it, with a “I think that's roughly it, but I'm not fully sure” reserve. It can also carry a slightly dismissive “he said ‘not coming' or whatever” tone. A very everyday way to relay speech.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「週末は映画___ショッピング___しました。」(On the weekend I watched movies, went shopping, and so on — colloquial listing)

(A) と/と　(B) や/や　(C) とか/とか　(D) か/か

Q2. 「田中さんが転職する___聞いた。」(I heard Tanaka is changing jobs — uncertain hearsay)

(A) とか　(B) と　(C) とかを　(D) らしい

Q3. 「リーメンとかピザとか食べる」の「とか」の用法は？

(A) hearsay

(B) complete listing

(C) incomplete listing (colloquial)

(D) quotation

Q4. 「〜とか言ってた」はどんな意味？

(A) definitely said those exact words

(B) a vague quotation — seems to have said something like that

(C) negating what the other person said

(D) ordering the other person to speak

Q5. 「と」と「とか」の最大の違いは？

(A) とか is written language; と is colloquial

(B) と is complete listing (just these); とか is incomplete/colloquial (there are others too)

(C) とか は否定的な意味がある

(D) と は伝聞を表す

Answer Explanations

1. (C) とか/とか ── In colloquial speech, incomplete listing uses 「とか」: 「映画とかショッピングとかした」(watched movies, went shopping, and so on), implying 'there were other things too.'

2. (A) とか ── 「田中さんが転職するとか聞いた」(I heard Tanaka is changing jobs) = plain form + とか = uncertain hearsay. らしい (D) is also possible, but 「とか聞いた」is more colloquial and specifically emphasizes 'I heard it from someone else.'

3. (C) incomplete listing (colloquial) ── 「ラーメンとかピザとか食べる」(eat ramen, pizza, and so on) = the listing usage of とか, implying 'not only these — there are others.'

4. (B) ── 「〜とか言ってた」(seems to have said something like that) = a vague quotation; the speaker isn't sure of the exact words, just quoting roughly. More uncertain and colloquial than 「〜と言っていた」(said ~).

5. (B) ── と: complete listing (「りんごとバナナ」= just apples and bananas); とか: incomplete listing (「りんごとかバナナとか」= apples and the like, bananas and the like, implying there are others).