The Particle “ya”: Non-Exhaustive Listing (vs to) [JLPT N5]

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

「りんごとバナナ」vs「りんごやバナナ」 — one character apart, ‘is there more?' has opposite answers.

「や」 = example listing, implying “and others”

「冷蔵庫にはリンゴやバナナ（など）がある」 (there are apples, bananas, (and such) in the fridge) — 「や」 is non-exhaustive listing: a few representatives, implying “and others.” That's its key difference from 「と」: と = exhaustive (just these), や = examples (and more). This guide gets や right and separates it from と and とか.

や = non-exhaustive (vs と = exhaustive)

• や = example listing (a few representatives, implying more, often with 「〜など」): リンゴやバナナなど (apples, bananas, and such).
• と = exhaustive listing (just these, nothing else): リンゴとバナナ (just apples and bananas).

Mnemonic: や hides an “and so on” after it; と doesn't.

や vs と

Example sentences

• 冷蔵庫にはリンゴやバナナなどがあります。(There are apples, bananas, and such in the fridge.) — non-exhaustive
• 趣味は読書や音楽です。(My hobbies are reading, music, and such.) — examples
• スーパーで野菜や果物を買った。(I bought vegetables, fruit, and such.) — examples
• 週末はカフェとか映画とか行く。(On weekends I go to cafés, movies, and so on.) — とか (casual)
• 東京や大阪などの大都市。(Big cities like Tokyo, Osaka, etc.) — examples

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① や vs と = examples vs exhaustive. 「リンゴやバナナ」 implies other fruit too; 「リンゴとバナナ」 is just those two. For “and so on,” use や; for “just these,” use と.

② や only lists nouns. や joins nouns (本や雑誌); to link actions/clauses, use 「〜たり〜たり」 or 「て」, not や.

③ とか is the colloquial や. Everyday speech prefers 「〜とか〜とか」 (映画とか、買い物とか), more casual than や.

🔄 How it differs: や vs と vs とか vs も

💡 The one thing to remember

「や」 and 「と」 differ by just “does it imply and-so-on”: や = a few, with more (＋など); と = just these, that's all. Introducing hobbies, 「読書や音楽」 sounds more natural than 「読書と音楽」, since hobbies usually aren't only two. In speech, 「とか」 (映画とか) is even more common. Grab the “や hides an ‘and so on'” feel and your listing sounds natural.

❓ FAQ

Q: 「リンゴやバナナ」 vs 「リンゴとバナナ」?

「や」 is examples: apples, bananas (and other fruit); 「と」 is exhaustive: just apples and bananas. To imply “and so on,” use や; to mean “only these,” use と.

Q: Are 「や」 and 「とか」 the same?

Same meaning (example listing), different register: 「や」 is neutral (written or spoken); 「とか」 is more casual (週末は映画とか行く). Chat prefers とか, writing prefers や.

🖊️ Practice Quiz

Q1. 「冷蔵庫にはリンゴ___バナナ___があります。」(there's also other fruit) What's most natural?

(A) と・と　(B) や・など　(C) も・も　(D) か・か

Q2. 「彼女___彼が結婚しました。」(just these two) Which particle?

(A) や　(B) も　(C) と　(D) が

Q3. 「趣味は読書___音楽です。」(I like other things too) Which fits best?

(A) と　(B) や　(C) を　(D) の

Q4. 「スーパーで野菜___果物___を買いました。」(examples, not the whole list) Fill the blanks.

(A) と・と　(B) や・など　(C) も・も　(D) で・で

Q5. In which sentence is 「と」 more suitable than 「や」?

(A) バッグの中に財布___スマホがあります。(maybe other things too)

(B) 日本語___英語を勉強しています。(maybe other languages too)

(C) 日本___中国は隣の国です。(just these two specific countries)

Answer Key

1. (B) や・など ── ‘there's other fruit too' = non-exhaustive listing uses や, with など for ‘etc.': リンゴやバナナなど. (A) と・と means ‘just apples and bananas.'

2. (C) と ── ‘just these two' = exhaustive: 彼女と彼.

3. (B) や ── ‘I like other things too' = non-exhaustive: 読書や音楽.

4. (B) や・など ── examples (not the whole list) use や ＋ など.

5. (C) ── ‘just these two specific countries' = exhaustive, so と: 日本と中国.