Listing Complaints: ~だの~だの (Da no... da no)
~だの~だの to dismissively list multiple complaints or excuses that you find irritating or excessive.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use ~だの~だの to list multiple negative or annoying things to emphasize your frustration or annoyance.
- Attach to plain form verbs or nouns: 忙しいだの疲れただの (Busy this, tired that).
- Use it to show you are annoyed by the repetition of complaints.
- The final 'da no' is often followed by a verb like 'iu' (to say) or 'monku' (complaint).
Overview
At the C1 level of Japanese, you move beyond merely stating facts and begin to convey attitude, judgment, and emotion through grammar itself. The ~だの~だの (da no... da no) pattern is a prime example of this, serving as a powerful tool for listing complaints, excuses, or reasons while simultaneously expressing annoyance, skepticism, or disdain.
While you have mastered neutral listing with particles like ~と (to), ~や (ya), and ~とか (toka), ~だの~だの adds a distinct layer of negative emotional commentary. It’s the grammatical equivalent of an eye-roll, transforming a simple list into a litany of grievances.
Think of this pattern as a way to group items into a conceptual box labeled "a series of tiresome or dubious claims." It is most frequently used when quoting someone else’s complaints or excuses, thereby creating psychological distance between the speaker and the statements being reported. You are not just listing what was said; you are passing judgment on it. For instance, if a friend cancels plans with a barrage of reasons, using ~だの~だの allows you to report those reasons while signaling that you find them excessive or unconvincing.
It frames the listed items not as objective truths, but as subjective, and often annoying, speech acts.
How This Grammar Works
~だの~だの is rooted in its components: the declarative copula だ (da) and the particle の (no). In this context, だ functions to turn the preceding word or phrase into a complete, albeit simple, assertion. The の that follows functions similarly to how it does in softener or explanatory contexts, creating a slight sense of ambiguity or indirectness.AだのBだの), it creates a sequence of what one might translate as "(they say) it's A, or (they say) it's B, and so on..." This structure inherently frames each item as a reported claim rather than a simple fact.~だの~だの is so effective for conveying a critical stance. You are not co-signing the items on the list; you are holding them at arm's length for examination. Consider the sentence: 彼は「頭が痛い」だの「気分が悪い」だのと言って、結局来なかった。 ({Kare wa 'atama ga itai' da no 'kibun ga warui' da no to itte, kekkyoku konakatta.} | He said things like 'I have a headache' and 'I feel sick,' and in the end, he didn't come).だの casts a shadow of doubt over the legitimacy of his excuses. It implies the speaker is tired of hearing these kinds of reasons from him. The grammar does the work of conveying the frustration without having to explicitly state "I'm annoyed."「」, the pattern maintains this nuance. It suggests an unspoken "people are saying..." or "the complaint is that..." which is why it's so often paired with verbs like {言う} (iu | to say), {文句を言う} (monku o iu | to complain), or adjectives like {うるさい} (urusai | noisy, annoying). The core function is to list and critique simultaneously.Formation Pattern
~だの~だの is consistent and straightforward: you attach it to the plain form of verbs and い-adjectives, and to the stem of な-adjectives and nouns followed by the copula だ.
だの remain in their plain/dictionary form, even if the main sentence concludes in the polite ~ます (masu) or ~でした (deshita) form. This creates a small, embedded pocket of informal complaint within a formally structured sentence.
だの | {行く} (iku) → {行く}だの {食べた} (tabeta) → {食べた}だの |
だの | {暑い} (atsui) → {暑い}だの {高かった} (takakatta) → {高かった}だの |
だ + だの | {不便} (fuben) → {不便}だだの {嫌い} (kirai) → {嫌い}だだの |
だ + だの | {仕事} (shigoto) → {仕事}だだの {病気} (byōki) → {病気}だだの |
だの[Item B in Plain Form]だの + Concluding Phrase (e.g., {文句ばかり言っている} | monku bakari itteiru)
あの客は、味が薄いだの、値段が高いだのと、ずっと文句を言っていました。 ({Ano kyaku wa, aji ga usui da no, nedan ga takai da no to, zutto monku o itte imashita.} | That customer was complaining the whole time, saying the flavor was weak, the price was high, and so on.) Notice how {薄い} (usui) and {高い} (takai) are in plain form, while the sentence ends politely with 言っていました (itte imashita).
When To Use It
~だの~だの is key to using it effectively. It is not an all-purpose listing tool. You should reserve it for contexts where a negative, critical, or dismissive nuance is intended.- To List Complaints and Criticisms: This is its most common and direct application. It's perfect for summarizing someone's (or your own) negative feedback about a product, service, or situation.
新しいスマホ、カメラの画質が悪いだの、バッテリーの持ちが悪いだの、問題だらけらしい。({Atarashii sumaho, kamera no gashitsu ga warui da no, batterī no mochi ga warui da no, mondai darake rashii.} | I hear the new smartphone is full of problems, like the camera quality is bad, the battery life is poor, etc.)
- To List Excuses: When someone provides a series of reasons for not doing something,
~だの~だのis the ideal way to list them while implying you find them weak or tiresome. 彼女はいつも「時間がない」だの「お金がない」だのと言って、誘いを断る。({Kanojo wa itsumo 'jikan ga nai' da no 'okane ga nai' da no to itte, sasoi o kotowaru.} | She always turns down invitations, giving excuses like 'I don't have time' or 'I don't have money.')
- To Quote Someone's Annoying or Nonsensical Statements: This usage highlights your role as a reporter of someone else's folly. It creates distance and shows you do not endorse the statements.
子供たちが「あれ買って」だの「これ欲しい」だの、スーパーでうるさくて大変だった。({Kodomotachi ga 'are katte' da no 'kore hoshii' da no, sūpā de urusakute taihen datta.} | The kids were a real pain at the supermarket, making a fuss saying 'buy me that,' 'I want this,' and so on.)
- For Self-Directed Ranting: While often used to criticize others, you can also use
~だの~だのto list your own overwhelming problems in a frustrated, self-deprecating manner. It conveys the feeling of being buried under a pile of troubles. レポートの提出だの、バイトのシフトだの、今週は考えることが多すぎて頭が爆発しそうだ。({Repōto no teishutsu da no, baito no shifuto da no, konshū wa kangaeru koto ga oosugite atama ga bakuhatsu shisō da.} | With report submissions, part-time job shifts, and everything else, I have so much to think about this week my head is going to explode.)
When Not To Use It
~だの~だの means it is entirely inappropriate in many situations. Using it incorrectly can make you sound sarcastic, ungrateful, or simply rude. Knowing when to avoid it is as important as knowing when to use it.- Do Not Use for Positive or Neutral Lists: This is the most critical rule. If you list positive attributes with
~だの~だの, you will imply that you find those qualities annoying or are speaking sarcastically. For compliments, use~し~し(shi...shi) or simply list the adjectives. - Incorrect:
私の先生は、親切だの、教え方が上手だの、素晴らしいです。(Sounds like: "My teacher is annoyingly kind and irritatingly good at teaching...") - Correct:
私の先生は、親切だし、教え方も上手だし、素晴らしいです。
- Do Not Use in Formal or Respectful Contexts: The grammar carries a strong informal and judgmental tone. It is completely unsuitable for most business communications, academic writing, or any situation where you must show respect (
敬語| keigo). The only exception would be quoting an informal complaint within a formal report, but this is a very fine line to walk. - Imagine telling your boss:
このプロジェクトは予算が足りないだの、人員がいないだの、難しいです。This would sound like you are whining and criticizing the company's planning, not professionally stating challenges.
- Do Not Use for Objective, Factual Enumeration: When you are simply listing facts without any emotional color—such as ingredients in a recipe, items on a schedule, or features of a product in a neutral description—
~だの~だのis the wrong choice. Use~と(to),~や(ya), or~とか(toka) instead. - Incorrect:
今日の会議の議題は、新製品開発だの、マーケティング戦略だのだった。(Sounds like the meeting topics were a bunch of annoying chores.) - Correct:
今日の会議の議題は、新製品開発やマーケティング戦略などでした。
Common Mistakes
~だの~だの but make subtle mistakes in formation or application that can lead to unnatural-sounding Japanese.- 1Forgetting the
だ(da) with Nouns and な-Adjectives: This is a very frequent error. The copulaだis not optional; it is essential to the structure. Without it, the sentence fragment is grammatically incomplete.
- Incorrect:
彼は仕事の、給料の問題の、文句ばかり。 - Correct:
彼は仕事だの、給料の問題だの、文句ばかり。({Kare wa shigoto da no, kyūryō no mondai da no, monku bakari.} | He's all complaints, about his job, about salary issues, and so on.) - Why it's a mistake: The
だestablishes each item as a full predicate (it is work,it is a salary issue), which the subsequentのthen casts into the list. Omitting it breaks this grammatical logic.
- 1Using it for a Simple To-Do List: While you might feel negatively about your chores,
~だの~だのis not used for a simple list of intended actions. It’s for listing complaints or reasons, not activities.
- Unnatural:
明日は部屋の掃除だの、買い物だの、するつもりです。(This sounds like you are already complaining about tomorrow's plans in a very dramatic way.) - Natural:
明日は部屋の掃除をしたり、買い物をしたりするつもりです。({Ashita wa heya no sōji o shitari, kaimono o shitari suru tsumori desu.} | Tomorrow I plan to do things like clean my room and go shopping.)
- 1Confusing the Nuance with
~やら(yara): Both patterns can list things with a negative feel, but the source of the negativity differs.~やらsuggests the speaker is overwhelmed by a chaotic multitude of things or tasks.~だの~だのsuggests the speaker is annoyed by the content of the listed items, which are often claims or excuses.
- ~やら (Overwhelmed):
宿題やら、掃除やらで、週末も休めない。({Shukudai yara, sōji yara de, shūmatsu mo yasumenai.} | With homework, cleaning and what-not, I can't even rest on the weekend.) - ~だの (Annoyed at Claims):
彼は「忙しい」だの「疲れた」だのと言って、何もしない。({Kare wa 'isogashii' da no 'tsukareta' da no to itte, nani mo shinai.} | He says he's 'busy' or 'tired' and does nothing.)
Common Collocations
~だの~だの thrives in combination with phrases that relate to speaking, complaining, and reasoning. Mastering these collocations will make your use of the pattern sound more natural and fluent.~だの~だのと{言う}(to iu): The most fundamental and neutral concluding verb, simply meaning "to say such things as A and B."彼はもう帰りたいだの、お腹がすいただのと言い始めた。({Kare wa mō kaeritai da no, onaka ga suita da no to iihajimeta.} | He started saying things like he wants to go home now, he's hungry, etc.)
~だの~だのと{文句を言う/並べる}(monku o iu/naraberu): The classic way to state that someone is complaining.{並べる}(naraberu | to line up) is more emphatic, suggesting a long, relentless list of grievances.レストランのレビューには、サービスが遅いだの、食事が冷たいだのといった文句が並んでいた。({Resutoran no rebyū ni wa, sābisu ga osoi da no, shokuji ga tsumetai da no to itta monku ga narandeita.} | The restaurant reviews were filled with complaints like the service was slow, the food was cold, and so on.)
~だの~だのと{理由をつける}(riyū o tsukeru): Specifically used for listing excuses. "To give reasons such as A and B..."彼はいつも、電車が遅れただの、道が混んでいただの、遅刻の理由をつける。({Kare wa itsumo, densha ga okureta da no, michi ga kondeita da no, chikoku no riyū o tsukeru.} | He always gives excuses for being late, like the train was delayed or the roads were congested.)
~だのなんだの(da no nan da no): This is a very common and powerful set phrase.なんだのis a contraction ofなどというand functions as a dismissive "and what-not" or "and all that junk." It's the perfect way to trail off a list of complaints, indicating that there were more, but they are not worth repeating.彼は給料が安いだの、上司が厳しいだのなんだの言って、会社を辞めた。({Kare wa kyūryō ga yasui da no, jōshi ga kibishii da no nan da no itte, kaisha o yameta.} | He quit the company, saying his salary was low, his boss was strict, and all that other nonsense.)
Contrast With Similar Patterns
~だの from its cousins ~とか, ~やら, and ~たり is a crucial skill.~とか (toka) | Neutral Example Listing | Casually provides non-exhaustive examples. Safe and versatile. Feeling: Suggestive, informal.週末は、映画を見るとか、本を読むとか、どう？ ({Shūmatsu wa, eiga o miru toka, hon o yomu toka, dō?} | For the weekend, how about we do something like watch a movie or read a book?) |~やら (yara) | Chaotic/Overwhelmed Listing | Lists things in a slightly messy, disorganized way, implying the speaker feels burdened by the quantity. Feeling: Overwhelmed, hassled. | 引っ越しの準備で、荷造りやら、役所の手続きやらで大変だ。 ({Hikkoshi no junbi de, nizukuri yara, yakusho no tetsuzuki yara de taihen da.} | It's tough preparing to move, with all the packing, government paperwork, and so on.) |~たり~たり | Listing Representative Actions | Lists example verbs to describe a range of activities someone does. Feeling: Organized, descriptive of behavior. | 休みの日は、散歩したり、カフェに行ったりしています。 ({Yasumi no hi wa, sanpo shitari, kafe ni ittari shiteimasu.} | On my days off, I do things like go for walks and go to cafes.) |~だの~だの | Critical/Annoyed Listing | Lists complaints, excuses, or claims while expressing negative judgment. Feeling: Annoyed, skeptical, critical. | あの新人は、仕事が難しいだの、給料が安いだの、文句ばかりだ。 ({Ano shinjin wa, shigoto ga muzukashii da no, kyūryō ga yasui da no, monku bakari da.} | That new hire is all complaints, saying the work is too hard, the pay is too low, etc.) |~とか for friendly suggestions. Use ~たり~たり to describe your weekend activities.~やら when you feel swamped by your to-do list. And reserve ~だの~だの for when you need to report someone's (or your own) litany of complaints with a palpable sense of frustration.Quick FAQ
~だの ever used for just one item?Very rarely. The rhetorical power of the pattern comes from the repetition (A だの B だの), which emphasizes that there is an excessive series of complaints. A single Aだの might be used in rapid, informal speech to lead into a phrase like ~って言うから (tte iu kara), but it feels clipped. The most common single-use context is within the set phrase ~だのなんだの (da no nan da no), which serves as a conclusive "and whatnot."
It is not a slur or a direct insult, but it is informal and explicitly judgmental. Its function is to express personal frustration. Using it in a context requiring politeness or objectivity would be a serious social error, making you sound unprofessional and disrespectful. It is generally safe to use among close friends when venting, but tread very carefully in any other setting.
だの?The word preceding だの retains its original pitch accent, and だの itself is pronounced with a low pitch. It follows the pitch of the preceding particle. For example, {あつい} (H-L-L) becomes {あついだの} (H-L-L L-L). For {しごと} (L-H-L), it becomes {しごとだの} (L-H-L L-L). Essentially, だの does not reset or alter the accent of the word it attaches to.
~だの to list things I'm happy or excited about, but there are just too many?No. While ~やら can sometimes be used for a chaotic jumble of positive things (e.g., receiving many gifts), ~だの~だの's core DNA is negative. Using it for a list of good things would create a strong sense of irony or sarcasm, suggesting you are not actually happy about them. For a positive, overwhelming list, you're better off using descriptive language rather than a specific listing particle.
Formation Table
| Item Type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Noun
|
Noun + だの
|
雨だの
|
|
Na-Adjective
|
Stem + だの
|
静かだの
|
|
I-Adjective
|
Plain Form + だの
|
暑いだの
|
|
Verb
|
Plain Form + だの
|
行くのだの
|
Meanings
Used to list examples of things, specifically when expressing annoyance, criticism, or a negative attitude toward the items being listed.
Expressing Annoyance
Listing multiple complaints to show irritation.
“雨だの風だの言わないで。”
“高いだの美味しくないだの、文句が多い。”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
AだのBだの
|
暑いだの寒いだの
|
|
Negative
|
AないだのBないだの
|
行かないだの食べないだの
|
|
Past
|
AだっただのBだっただの
|
高かっただの悪かっただの
|
|
Noun
|
NounだのNounだの
|
本だのペンだの
|
|
Verb
|
VerbだのVerbだの
|
遊ぶだの寝るだの
|
Formality Spectrum
彼はあれこれと文句を言います。 (Talking to a friend about a coworker.)
彼は色々なことに文句を言います。 (Talking to a friend about a coworker.)
彼は暑いだの寒いだの文句ばかり言っている。 (Talking to a friend about a coworker.)
あいつ、文句ばっか。 (Talking to a friend about a coworker.)
The Complaint Web
Tone
- 不満 dissatisfaction
Usage
- 文句 complaint
Examples by Level
暑いだの寒いだの。
Too hot, too cold.
高いだの美味しくないだの。
It's expensive, it's not tasty.
宿題だの試験だの、忙しい。
Homework, exams, I'm so busy.
彼は仕事だの家庭だのと言い訳ばかりする。
He makes excuses about work, family, and so on.
あの子は服だの髪型だの、外見のことばかり気にしている。
That girl only cares about her appearance—clothes, hairstyle, etc.
政治だの経済だの、専門家でもないのに語りたがる。
He loves to talk about politics and economics even though he's not an expert.
Easily Confused
Both are listing particles.
Common Mistakes
寿司だのラーメンだの好きです。
寿司やラーメンが好きです。
雨だの降る。
雨だの風だの言っている。
忙しいだの、疲れただの。
忙しいだの疲れただの言わないで。
彼は高いだの、美味しくないだの。
彼は高いだの美味しくないだのと言って文句をつけた。
Sentence Patterns
___だの___だのと言っている。
Real World Usage
今日暑いだの疲れただの言われて大変だった。
仕事だの家事だの、毎日忙しすぎる。
N/A
高いだの遠いだの言わないで楽しもう。
冷めてるだの遅いだの文句が多い。
彼はいつも金だの女だのの話ばかり。
Use with 'iu'
Avoid in formal settings
Use for venting
Tone matters
Smart Tips
Use this to show you are tired of the complaints.
Keep the items short.
Use it only for negative things.
Add 'monku' at the end.
Pronunciation
Intonation
The 'da no' should be said with a slightly rising, annoyed tone.
Annoyed
暑いだの↗ 寒いだの↗
Conveys rising frustration.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Da-no' as 'Darn-no'—like saying 'Darn, no this, darn, no that!'
Visual Association
Imagine a person with steam coming out of their ears, pointing at a list of things they hate.
Rhyme
When you're feeling low and full of woe, list your complaints with da-no, da-no!
Story
Kenji was having a bad day. He complained about the rain (ame-da-no), the wind (kaze-da-no), and his cold coffee (koohii-da-no). His friend sighed, 'Enough with the da-no!'
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences about things that annoy you using the ~だの~だの structure.
Cultural Notes
Complaining directly is often seen as rude, so this grammar is used to vent to close friends.
Derived from the copula 'da' and the particle 'no'.
Conversation Starters
最近、何か文句はある？
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
暑い___寒い___と文句を言う。
Which is correct for complaining?
Find and fix the mistake:
彼は美味しいだの楽しいだの言っている。
Change 'I am busy and tired' to a complaint.
Can you use ~だの for positive lists?
A: 彼はいつも文句ばかりだね。 B: 本当に。___。
Order: [だの / 暑い / 寒い / だの / 言う]
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises暑い___寒い___と文句を言う。
Which is correct for complaining?
Find and fix the mistake:
彼は美味しいだの楽しいだの言っている。
Change 'I am busy and tired' to a complaint.
Can you use ~だの for positive lists?
A: 彼はいつも文句ばかりだね。 B: 本当に。___。
Order: [だの / 暑い / 寒い / だの / 言う]
Match the structure to its use.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
3 exercisesあいつは{金|かね}が（ ）だの、{時間|じかん}がないだの、いつも{言|い}い{訳|わけ}ばかりだ。
[ {言|い}って / {忙|いそが}しい / ぜんぜん / だの / こない / だの / ]
He's complaining about the food being cold and the price being high.
Score: /3
FAQ (8)
No, it is strictly for negative or annoying lists.
You can use it, but it's more common to list at least two.
No, it is informal and subjective.
Yes, use the plain form.
One is for complaints, the other is for neutral actions.
Yes, in dialogue or narrative.
Yes, if you are venting about your own situation.
Usually, yes, or a similar verb.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
y todo eso
The complaint nuance is unique to Japanese.
et tout ça
Lacks the negative tone.
und so weiter
No emotional weight.
〜やら〜やら
〜やら is more for confusion or uncertainty.
وهكذا
No complaint nuance.
之类的
Can be neutral or negative depending on context.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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