B2 Particles 10 min read Medium

Listing Things in a Whirlwind (~yara ~yara)

Use ~やら~やら to list messy, diverse, or overwhelming things when you feel there is too much going on.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use ~yara ~yara to list a few examples from a larger, implied set of things or actions.

  • Attach ~yara to nouns or verb stems to imply 'things like A and B'.
  • Always include at least two items to create the 'whirlwind' effect.
  • End with a verb or auxiliary to complete the thought, often implying 'and so on'.
Item A + やら + Item B + やら + Verb

Overview

~やら~やら is a B2-level Japanese particle pattern used to list representative examples from a larger, implied set of items, actions, or states. Its core function is to convey the speaker's subjective feeling of being overwhelmed, disorganized, or faced with a chaotic mixture. Unlike neutral listing patterns like ~や~ or ~とか~, ~やら~やら is never just a simple list; it inherently colors the sentence with an impression of "a lot going on," suggesting that the situation is messy, complex, or burdensome.

Think of it as the grammatical equivalent of a sigh while looking at a cluttered desk or a packed schedule. When you say レポートやら会議やら (repōto yara kaigi yara), you're not just stating "reports and meetings." You're implying "reports, meetings, and a dozen other things I can't even begin to list... it's all too much." This pattern allows you to communicate the emotional impact of multiplicity rather than just the fact of it.

Because it reflects a personal perspective, ~やら~やら is common in conversational Japanese, personal narratives, and descriptive writing where conveying a mood or internal state is important. Mastering it means moving beyond simply stating facts to expressing the nuanced, often chaotic, texture of experience.

How This Grammar Works

The essential mechanism of ~やら~やら is non-exhaustive enumeration. You select two or more items that represent a larger, unstated group of similar things. This incompleteness is deliberate.
It's a linguistic signal that the listed items are just the "tip of the iceberg," and it's the sheer volume or variety of the whole that is causing the speaker's feeling of disarray or pressure.
The pattern creates a frame: "With things like A and B (and who knows what else)..." This frame sets up a following clause that describes the resulting state. This result is often one of difficulty, confusion, or busyness, captured in phrases like 大変だ (taihen da - it's tough), 忙しい (isogashii - busy), or 頭が混乱する (atama ga konran suru - my head is spinning).
  • 宿題{しゅくだい}やらアルバイトやらで、週末{しゅうまつ}は全然{ぜんぜん}休{やす}めなかった。 (Shukudai yara arubaito yara de, shūmatsu wa zenzen yasumenakatta.)
  • Between homework, my part-time job, and whatnot, I couldn't rest at all this weekend.
The particle で often follows the list to mark the collection of items as the cause or context for the resulting state. The grammar doesn't just connect items; it bundles them into a single overwhelming cause.
Another key function is expressing mixed or conflicting states, especially with adjectives. When you feel two competing emotions at once, ~やら~やら perfectly captures that internal turmoil. For instance, 嬉しいやら寂しいやら (ureshii yara sabishii yara) expresses a bittersweet feeling—happy about something, yet sad at the same time, such as at a graduation ceremony.

Formation Pattern

1
~やら~やら attaches to the plain or dictionary form of words. The tense and politeness of the sentence are determined by the final predicate, not the words within the list. You must list at least two items.
2
| Part of Speech | Pattern | Example (Japanese) | Example (Romanized) | English Nuance |
3
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
4
| Noun | Noun + やら | 子供{こども}やらペットやら | kodomo yara petto yara | Kids and pets and all that chaos... |
5
| Verb | Dictionary Form + やら | 泣{な}くやら笑{わら}うやら | naku yara warau yara | Crying one moment, laughing the next... |
6
| I-Adjective | I-Adjective (Plain) + やら | 暑{あつ}いやら寒{さむ}いやら | atsui yara samui yara | Hot then cold... (unpredictable weather) |
7
| Na-Adjective | Na-Adjective (Stem) + やら | 好{す}きやら嫌{きら}いやら | suki yara kirai yara | A mix of liking and disliking it... |
8
Crucially, do not conjugate the words before やら. The adjectives and verbs in the list remain in their dictionary form even if the main sentence is in the past tense.
9
Correct: きのうは、嬉{うれ}しいやら悲{かな}しいやらで、気持{きも}ちがぐちゃぐちゃでした。 (Kinō wa, ureshii yara kanashii yara de, kimochi ga guchagucha deshita.)
10
Incorrect: きのうは、嬉{うれ}しかったやら悲{かな}しかったやらで... (Kinō wa, ureshikatta yara kanashikatta yara de...*)
11
This structure reinforces that the items are being presented as timeless, general examples contributing to a specific, time-bound situation.

When To Use It

You should use ~やら~やら when you want to do more than just list things; you want to comment on the nature of the list itself—that it's messy, overwhelming, or emotionally complex.
  1. 1To Express Busyness and Overwhelm: This is the most common use. When you're swamped with tasks, errands, or obligations, ~やら~やら is the perfect tool to convey that feeling of being snowed under.
  • 年末{ねんまつ}は、大掃除{おおそうじ}やら年賀状{ねんがじょう}の準備{じゅんび}やらで、目{め}の回{まわ}るような忙{いそが}しさだ。 (Nenmatsu wa, ōsouji yara nengajō no junbi yara de, me no mawaru yōna isogashisa da.)
  • At the end of the year, with deep cleaning, New Year's card preparations, and so on, it's dizzyingly busy.
  1. 1To Describe a Chaotic Scene or Jumble of Things: Use it to paint a picture of a physical space or situation that is disorderly and cluttered. It emphasizes the messy variety of objects present.
  • 引{ひ}っ越{こ}しのダンボールで、部屋{へや}の中{なか}は本{ほん}やら服{ふく}やらがごちゃごちゃになっている。 (Hikkoshi no danbōru de, heya no naka wa hon yara fuku yara ga gocha-gocha ni natteiru.)
  • With all the moving boxes, the inside of the room is a mess of books, clothes, and other stuff.
  1. 1To Convey Mixed or Ambiguous Feelings: This is a sophisticated use of the pattern. When you experience conflicting emotions simultaneously, ~やら~やら neatly packages that complexity.
  • 初{はじ}めてのプレゼンを終{お}え、安堵{あんど}やら後悔{こうかい}やらで、複雑{ふくざつ}な心境{しんきょう}だった。 (Hajimete no purezen o oe, ando yara kōkai yara de, fukuzatsu na shinkyō datta.)
  • After finishing my first presentation, I had mixed feelings of relief and regret.

When Not To Use It

Because ~やら~やら has such a specific subjective nuance, using it in the wrong context can make your Japanese sound unnatural or unintentionally dramatic.
  1. 1For Simple, Factual Listing: If you're just stating what's on a list without any emotional overtone, ~やら~やら is inappropriate. Use simpler particles like ~や~ for non-exhaustive lists or ~と~ for exhaustive ones.
  • Incorrect: テーブル{てーぶる}の上{うえ}に、ペン{ぺん}やらノート{のーと}やらがあります。 (Tēburu no ue ni, pen yara nōto yara ga arimasu.) — Implies the pen and notebook are part of a messy situation.
  • Correct: テーブル{てーぶる}の上{うえ}に、ペン{ぺん}やノート{のーと}があります。 (Tēburu no ue ni, pen ya nōto ga arimasu.) — There are things like a pen and a notebook on the table.
  1. 1In Highly Formal or Objective Contexts: The inherent subjectivity of ~やら~やら makes it ill-suited for scientific papers, objective business reports, or official announcements where personal feelings are irrelevant.
  • Context: A financial report.
  • Inappropriate: 株価{かぶか}の上昇{じょうしょう}やら下落{げらく}やらで、市場{しじょう}は不安定{ふあんてい}だった。 (Kabuka no jōshō yara geraku yara de, shijō wa fuantei datta.) — Sounds too personal and descriptive.
  • Better: 株価{かぶか}は上昇{じょうしょう}と下落{げらく}を繰{く}り返{かえ}し、市場{しじょう}は不安定{ふあんてい}な動{うご}きを見{み}せた。 (Kabuka wa jōshō to geraku o kurikaeshi, shijō wa fuantei na ugoki o miseta.) — Stock prices repeated rises and falls, and the market showed unstable movement.
  1. 1To Present Clear Alternatives or Choices: ~やら~やら lists things that co-exist. If you want to offer options (A or B), you must use a different pattern like ~なり~なり.
  • Incorrect: メール{めーる}やら電話{でんわ}やらで連絡{れんらく}してください。 (Mēru yara denwa yara de renraku shite kudasai.) — Confusingly implies they should contact you via a chaotic mix of methods.
  • Correct: メール{めーる}なり電話{でんわ}なりで連絡{れんらく}してください。 (Mēru nari denwa nari de renraku shite kudasai.) — Please contact me by email or phone (or whatever is convenient).

Common Mistakes

Learners often stumble with ~やら~やら by treating it as a generic listing tool, missing its crucial nuances.
  1. 1Using it with a Single Item: The pattern's entire meaning is built on multiplicity. Listing only one item completely breaks the grammar. You need at least two examples to create the sense of a jumble.
  • Mistake: 彼{かれ}は文句{もんく}やらを言{い}っていた。 (Kare wa monku yara o itte ita.)
  • Correction: To imply "complaints and other such things," you need another element: 彼{かれ}は文句{もんく}やら愚痴{ぐち}やらを言{い}っていた。 (Kare wa monku yara guchi yara o itte ita.) If you only want to mention one example, use ~など: 文句{もんく}などを言{い}っていた。 (Monku nado o itte ita.)
  1. 1Incorrectly Conjugating Words in the List: As noted in the formation section, verbs and adjectives before やら must be in their plain/dictionary form. The temptation to match their tense to the final verb is a frequent error.
  • Mistake: パーティー{ぱーてぃー}では、飲{の}んだやら食{た}べたやらで楽{たの}しかったです。 (...nonda yara tabeta yara...)
  • Correction: パーティー{ぱーてぃー}では、飲{の}むやら食{た}べるやらで楽{たの}しかったです。 (...nomu yara taberu yara...) At the party, what with all the drinking and eating, it was fun.
  1. 1Confusing it with ~だの~だの: Both patterns convey a subjective feeling about a list, but the feeling is different. ~やら~やら implies personal overwhelm or chaos, while ~だの~だの expresses annoyance, criticism, or complaint about the listed items, which are often someone else's words or actions.
  • Nuance Error: 彼女{かのじょ}は、頭{あたま}が痛{いた}いやら熱{ねつ}があるやらと言{い}って休{やす}んだ。 (Kanojo wa, atama ga itai yara netsu ga aru yara to itte yasunda.) — Grammatically possible, but ~だの is more natural for reporting complaints.
  • More Natural: 彼女{かのじょ}は、頭{あたま}が痛{いた}いだの熱{ねつ}があるだのと言{い}って休{やす}んだ。 (Kanojo wa, atama ga itai dano netsu ga aru dano to itte yasunda.) — She took the day off, complaining of things like a headache and a fever.

Common Collocations

~やら~やら shines when pairing words that naturally create a sense of multiplicity, contrast, or chaos. Recognizing these common pairings will help you use the pattern more naturally.
  • あれやらこれやら (are yara kore yara) - This and that and a bunch of other things (the quintessential phrase for miscellaneous tasks or items).
  • 嬉{うれ}しいやら悲{かな}しいやら (ureshii yara kanashii yara) - A mix of happy and sad (for complex, bittersweet moments).
  • 期待{きたい}やら不安{ふあん}やら (kitai yara fuan yara) - A mix of anticipation and anxiety (the feeling before a big event).
  • 書{か}くやら消{け}すやら (kaku yara kesu yara) - Writing and erasing over and over (implies a difficult or indecisive creative process).
  • 飲{の}むやら騒{さわ}ぐやら (nomu yara sawagu yara) - Drinking and making noise (describes a wild, chaotic party).
  • 雨{あめ}やら風{かぜ}やら (ame yara kaze yara) - Rain and wind (implies stormy, unpleasant weather).
  • 仕事{しごと}やら家庭{かてい}のことやら (shigoto yara katei no koto yara) - Work, family matters, and so on (a common way to express being busy with life's responsibilities).

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Choosing the right listing pattern depends entirely on the nuance you wish to convey. Here’s how ~やら~やら stands apart.
| Pattern | Core Nuance | Example |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| ~やら~やら | Chaotic Mix / Overwhelm (Subjective) | レポートやら試験やらで大変だ。 (Repōto yara shiken yara de taihen da.) - It's tough with reports, exams, etc. |
| ~とか~とか | Casual Examples (Neutral) | 週末は映画とかゲームとかしてる。 (Shūmatsu wa eiga toka gēmu toka shiteru.) - On weekends I do stuff like movies, games. |
| ~だの~だの | Complaint / Criticism (Negative) | 彼は給料が安いだの休みがないだの文句ばかり。 (Kare wa kyūryō ga yasui dano yasumi ga nai dano monku bakari.) - He just complains that the pay is low, there are no days off, etc. |
| ~なり~なり | Suggesting Alternatives / Choice | 先生になり先輩になり相談しなさい。 (Sensei ni nari senpai ni nari sōdan shinasai.) - Talk to a teacher or a senior, whichever. |
| ~し~し | Listing Reasons / Causes | 値段も安いし、デザインもいいし、これを買おう。 (Nedan mo yasui shi, dezain mo ii shi, kore o kaō.) - It's cheap and the design is good, so let's buy it. |
~やら~やら vs. ~とか~とか: This is the most crucial distinction. ~とか is for neutrally listing examples.
週末は、掃除とか買い物とかします (Shūmatsu wa, sōji toka kaimono toka shimasu) is a simple statement of fact. 週末は、掃除やら買い物やらで忙しかった (Shūmatsu wa, sōji yara kaimono yara de isogashikatta) communicates that these activities were part of a hectic, overwhelming weekend.
~やら~やら vs. ~だの~だの: Both are subjective, but ~やら~やら describes the speaker's internal state of being overwhelmed, while ~だの~だの typically expresses external criticism or reports someone else's complaints. You feel やら; you complain with だの.

Quick FAQ

  • Q: Can I end a sentence with ~やら?
  • A: Sometimes, in casual speech, the second やら and the following clause can be omitted if the context makes the sense of overwhelm obvious. For example, やることが多すぎて、あれやらこれやら... (Yaru koto ga ō-sugite, are yara kore yara...) meaning "I have too much to do, this and that and..." The trailing off itself conveys the feeling.
  • Q: Is ~やら~やら only for negative situations?
  • A: Not strictly. While it often describes burdensome situations (忙しい, 大変), it can also describe a positive but chaotic scene, like a lively party (飲むやら歌うやらで楽しかった - nomu yara utau yara de tanoshikatta) or a mix of good feelings (嬉しいやら恥ずかしいやら - ureshii yara hazukashii yara). The key is the disorderly mix, not necessarily negativity.
  • Q: Why is this considered B2 level? The concept seems simple.
  • A: The basic idea of listing is simple (A1), but the B2 challenge lies in pragmatics. It requires you to understand the speaker's unspoken emotional context and to distinguish ~やら~やら from a half-dozen other listing patterns (とか, だの, なり, や, と, し) based on subtle social and emotional cues. Using it correctly demonstrates a sophisticated grasp of subjective expression.
  • Q: Does it have a formal equivalent?
  • A: There isn't a direct one-to-one replacement in highly formal language because formal language often seeks to remove subjectivity. Instead of using a pattern like ~やら~やら, a formal report would likely list the contributing factors more explicitly and objectively, using phrases like 〜に加え (ni kuwae - in addition to) or simply listing them with connecting nouns.

Formation Pattern

Element Particle Result
Noun
や
Noun + やら
Verb Stem
や
Verb Stem + やら

Meanings

The particle ~yara is used to list items or actions in a way that suggests there are more things of the same nature, often implying a sense of chaos or 'too many things to mention'.

1

Non-exhaustive list

Listing examples from a larger set.

“{仕事|しごと}やら{家事|かじ}やらで忙しい。”

“{甘い|あまい}ものやら{辛い|からい}ものやら、何でも好きだ。”

Reference Table

Reference table for Listing Things in a Whirlwind (~yara ~yara)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
AやらBやら
AやらBやらで忙しい
Negative
AやらBやらではない
AやらBやらではない
Question
AやらBやらですか？
AやらBやらですか？

Formality Spectrum

Formal
{仕事|しごと}やら{家事|かじ}やらで{多忙|たぼう}です。

{仕事|しごと}やら{家事|かじ}やらで{多忙|たぼう}です。 (Daily life)

Neutral
{仕事|しごと}やら{家事|かじ}やらで忙しいです。

{仕事|しごと}やら{家事|かじ}やらで忙しいです。 (Daily life)

Informal
{仕事|しごと}やら{家事|かじ}やらで忙しい。

{仕事|しごと}やら{家事|かじ}やらで忙しい。 (Daily life)

Slang
仕事やら家事やらでマジ忙しい。

仕事やら家事やらでマジ忙しい。 (Daily life)

The Whirlwind List

Chaos/Busy

Items

  • 本 books
  • 服 clothes
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Examples by Level

1

{宿題|しゅくだい}やら{掃除|そうじ}やらで忙しい。

I'm busy with homework, cleaning, and so on.

1

{本|ほん}やら{服|ふく}やらが{部屋|へや}にある。

There are books, clothes, and other things in the room.

1

{雨|あめ}やら{風|かぜ}やらで{外|そと}に出られない。

I can't go outside because of the rain, wind, and so on.

1

{不安|ふあん}やら{期待|きたい}やらで{眠|ねむ}れない。

I can't sleep because of anxiety, excitement, and other feelings.

1

{金|かね}やら{時間|じかん}やらを{無駄|むだ}にした。

I wasted money, time, and other resources.

1

{何|なに}やら{怪|あや}しい{気配|けはい}がする。

There is some kind of suspicious presence.

Easily Confused

Listing Things in a Whirlwind (~yara ~yara) vs ~ya

Both are non-exhaustive lists.

Common Mistakes

✗

本やら。

✓

本やらノートやら。

Needs at least two items.
✗

本と服やら。

✓

本やら服やら。

Mixing particles is confusing.
✗

本やら服やらです。

✓

本やら服やらで散らかっている。

Usually needs a verb describing the state.
✗

本やら服やらを全部買った。

✓

本やら服やら、いろいろ買った。

Yara implies non-exhaustive, so 'all' contradicts it.

Sentence Patterns

___やら___やらで大変だ。

Real World Usage

Texting a friend common

今日、仕事やら家事やらで死にそう。

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💡

Use for complaints

Use ~yara when you want to sound like you have a lot on your plate.

Smart Tips

Use ~yara to emphasize the chaos.

忙しいです。 → 仕事やら家事やらで忙しいです。

Pronunciation

ya-RA, ya-RA

Intonation

The intonation should rise slightly on each 'yara' to emphasize the list.

Rising

Aやら↑ Bやら↑

Suggests a long, ongoing list.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Yara-yara' tornado spinning items around your head.

Visual Association

Imagine a tornado in your room picking up books and clothes, spinning them around.

Rhyme

Yara-yara, things are a mess, I'm feeling quite a lot of stress.

Story

I tried to pack for my trip. I grabbed my passport, my clothes, and my camera. Everything was flying everywhere! I said, 'Passport-yara, clothes-yara, I am so stressed!'

Word Web

忙しい散らかる大変何やら誰やら

Challenge

Write three sentences about why you are busy today using the ~yara construction.

Cultural Notes

Commonly used in casual conversation to express frustration.

Derived from the classical Japanese verb 'yaru' (to do).

Conversation Starters

“

最近、何が忙しいですか？

Journal Prompts

Describe your room when it is messy.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

部屋には本___服___が散らかっている。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Yara is the correct particle for this list.

Score: /1

Practice Exercises

1 exercises
Fill in the blank.

部屋には本___服___が散らかっている。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Yara is the correct particle for this list.

Score: /1

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Complete the sentence to describe a busy morning. Fill in the Blank

朝は{朝食|ちょうしょく}の( )、{着替|きが}え( )で忙しい。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: やら
Which one uses the correct verb form with ~やら? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct one:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {食|た}べるやら{飲|の}むやら
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

やら / 仕事 / 忙しい / 家事 / やら / で

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 仕事やら家事やらで忙しい
Translate this to Japanese using ~やら~やら. Translation

Between the rain and the wind, it was terrible.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {雨|あめ}やら{風|かぜ}やらで{大変|たいへん}だった。
Fix the ending of this sentence. Error Correction

{酒|さけ}やら{魚|さかな}やらを{買|か}うた。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {酒|さけ}やら{魚|さかな}やらを{買|か}った。
Match the modern context with the chaotic list. Match Pairs

Match the scenarios:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Fill in the mixed emotions of a graduate. Fill in the Blank

{卒業|そつぎょう}は{寂|さび}しい( )、( )やらで複雑だ。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: やら
Which is the most natural way to describe a messy room? Multiple Choice

Pick the best description:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {服|ふく}やら{本|ほん}やらが散らかっている。
Order the words to describe a loud party. Sentence Reorder

やら / 騒ぐ / 歌う / やら / で / うるさい

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 歌うやら騒ぐやらでうるさい
Translate: Some were expensive and some were cheap. Translation

Translate the sentence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {高|たか}いやら{安|やす}いやらでした。
Can you use 'dano' instead of 'yara' here? Multiple Choice

Someone is complaining about their boss: '{厳|きび}しい( ) {細|こま}かい( )、もう{嫌|いや}だ！'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: だの...だの
Final touch on a travel description. Fill in the Blank

{京都|きょうと}は{神社|じんじゃ}やら( )やらで見どころが多い。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: お寺

Score: /12

FAQ (1)

No, you need at least two items to create the list.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

y todo eso

Yara is a particle; Spanish uses a phrase.

French low

et cetera

Yara is emotive; etc. is clinical.

German low

und so weiter

Yara is conversational; usw. is formal.

Chinese moderate

等等

Yara is emotive; deng deng is neutral.

Arabic low

وغير ذلك

Yara is informal; wa ghayr dhalik is formal.

Japanese high

など

Nado is neutral; Yara is emotive.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Uncontrollable Feelings: ~てならない (~te naranai)

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A1

The Direction Particle: へ (e) — Toward a Destination

The particle へ (pronounced "e" when used as a particle, not "he") marks direction — the way you are heading. While に a...
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