LEARN + JAPANESE / Note 139 JLPT N4
Things Like This and That (とか)
とか attaches after nouns or plain-form verbs and lists a few casual examples, “things like X and Y.” It’s looser and more conversational than と, which lists a complete, exact set.
I often read stuff like mysteries and horror novels.
I often go places like the gym, the bookstore, or a CD shop.
In Real Life
と implies a closed, complete list, “A and B, that’s everything.” とか implies an open one, “things like A, B, and probably more,” which is why it fits so naturally into casual conversation, where you’re rarely being exhaustive.
On days off, Takuya does things like go to the gym or swim.
On days off, Takuya does things like go out with friends or clean.
In Real Life
とか works on verbs too, always paired with する at the end, Xとか、Yとかする, the verb version of たり〜たりする, a slightly more casual-sounding alternative doing much the same job.
Vocabulary
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| mystery | |
| horror | |
| novel | |
| comedy | |
| action | |
| bookstore | |
| coffee shop | |
| to go for a drive | |
| a day off | |
| to go out | |
| movie theater | |
| parents | |
| casually | |
| example | |
| various | |
| conversational style | |
| to list, enumerate | |
| vague | |
| and others, etcetera | |
| and so on |