「とか」- Listing and Examples
Explanation
In Japanese, 〜とか is a common grammatical structure used to list or give examples of similar things. It is pronounced as "toka" and can be translated as "things like" or "such as." 〜とか typically follows nouns, verbs, and other parts of speech to connect multiple listed items. This usage is especially common in casual speech, where it is used to express uncertain or informal listings.
Grammar Pattern
| Grammar Point | Connection | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 〜とか | Noun / Verb Dictionary Form + とか | Used to list multiple things or actions, often to express uncertain or casual listings. |
Basic Usage
- Listing Nouns: Used to list multiple nouns, indicating similar things.
- Listing Verbs: Used to list multiple verbs, indicating similar actions.
Examples
休みの日 には、ゲームをする とか、テレビを見る とかして過ご します。- Yasumi no hi ni wa, geemu o suru toka, terebi o miru toka shite sugoshimasu.
- On days off, I spend time playing games, watching TV, and things like that.
タクシー とかバス に乗 ると気分 が悪 くなります。- Takushii toka basu ni noru to kibun ga waruku narimasu.
- I feel sick when I ride things like taxis or buses.
Deep Dive
Complex Usage
In more complex sentences, 〜とか can be used to connect multiple verbs or nouns, creating a listing effect. For example:
昨日 は食事をする とか、映画を見に行く とかしました。- Kinou wa shokuji o suru toka, eiga o mi ni iku toka shimashita.
- Yesterday, I did things like eating and going to see a movie.
Omitting Particles
In some cases, particles can be omitted when using 〜とか. For example:
チョコ とか買 いたいです。- Choko toka kaitai desu.
- I want to buy things like chocolate.
Comparisons and Differences
Comparison with 「〜や〜など」
Both 〜とか and 〜や〜など can be used for listing, but 〜とか is more casual and can follow verbs, while や can only follow nouns. For example:
本 やノート を買 いました。- Hon ya nooto o kaimashita.
- I bought books and notebooks.
本 とかノート とかを買 いました。- Hon toka nooto toka o kaimashita.
- I bought things like books and notebooks.
Comparison with 「〜たり〜たり」
〜たり〜たり is mainly used to list actions, while 〜とか can list both nouns and verbs. For example:
休みの日 には、ゲームをしたり 、テレビを見たり します。- Yasumi no hi ni wa, geemu o shitari, terebi o mitari shimasu.
- On days off, I play games, watch TV, and so on.
休みの日 には、ゲームをする とか、テレビを見る とかします。- Yasumi no hi ni wa, geemu o suru toka, terebi o miru toka shimasu.
- On days off, I do things like playing games and watching TV.
Comparison with 「〜やら〜やら」
やら can also be used for listing, but it often emphasizes a large number, complexity, or negative feelings. For example:
彼氏 はいつもチョコ やらお花 やらをたくさん買 ってきてくれます。- Kareshi wa itsumo choko yara ohana yara o takusan katte kite kuremasu.
- My boyfriend always buys me things like chocolate and flowers.
彼氏 はいつもチョコ とか花 とか買 ってきてくれます。- Kareshi wa itsumo choko toka hana toka katte kite kuremasu.
- My boyfriend always buys me things like chocolate and flowers.
Real-Life Scenarios
Dialogue Examples
- A:
週末 はどんな予定 がありますか？ - A: Shuumatsu wa donna yotei ga arimasu ka?
- A: What are your plans for the weekend?
- B:
買い物をする とか、友達と会う とかするつもりです。 - B: Kaimono o suru toka, tomodachi to au toka suru tsumori desu.
- B: I plan to do things like shopping and meeting friends.
- A:
今日 の夜ご飯 は何 ですか？ - A: Kyou no yorugohan wa nan desu ka?
- A: What’s for dinner tonight?
- B:
カレー とか、ラーメン とか、まだ決 めていません。 - B: Karee toka, raamen toka, mada kimeteimasen.
- B: Things like curry or ramen—I haven’t decided yet.
Summary
〜とか is a common listing structure in Japanese, primarily used to list multiple things or actions, often to express uncertainty. By comparing it with other listing structures, you can better understand its usage and nuances.
Additional Notes
- The listing usage of 〜とか is very common in everyday conversations, especially when describing daily activities or expressing uncertain choices.
- There are no strict limitations on using 〜とか, making it a flexible and versatile tool for making Japanese expressions more vivid and natural.