など
- 1Presents the preceding item(s) as examples from a larger group, meaning 'such as' or 'and so on.'Ex. 1
- 2Marks something as one representative example among others, as in listing typical sources or categories.Ex. 2
- 3Softens a suggestion or statement by presenting the item as just one option ('something like').
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など is neutral in register and common in both speech and writing, including news, explanations and formal texts. It typically closes a non-exhaustive list begun with や, and 〜などの＋noun names a category through examples. In casual conversation, なんか often replaces it, while と is used instead when the list is complete.
Do not use など for a complete, exhaustive list; use と when you mean exactly those items and nothing else.
Note that など follows the last item in a list; it is not repeated between each item like や.
Note that など attached to people, especially oneself, can sound humble or belittling rather than neutral.
- やN5「や」is placed between nouns to give examples and only connects nouns; 「など」comes after the examples, can attach to a single noun or to verbs, and can also express a soft suggestion, humility, or belittling. The two are often used together as 「AやBなど」and cannot be swapped.
- なんか / なんてN3「なんか／なんて」are colloquial. They can replace 「など」when giving examples, being humble, or belittling, but sound casual and are unsuitable for formal situations. Only 「なんて」can also attach to a sentence to express surprise at "of all things...", a usage 「など」does not have.
- でもN5「でも」is close to 「など」only in making soft suggestions, where the two are interchangeable and 「など」is slightly more formal; 「でも」usually gives just one example, directly replaces particles like 「が」and 「を」, and also means "even if..." or "no matter...", usages 「など」does not have.
- だの〜だのN2「だの〜だの」must be used as a pair, often with 「と言う」, to list someone else's complaints or excuses with a dissatisfied tone, mostly in spoken language; 「など」is neutral in register and can be used alone, and objective or positive listings cannot be replaced with 「だの」.
- か何かN3「か何か」is similar to 「など」in giving examples, but carries the uncertainty of "this or something else" and is limited to spoken language; it has no humble or belittling uses, and can also attach to 「で」to vaguely state a reason.
や links items in a non-exhaustive list and is often paired with a closing など, while なんか／なんて are casual counterparts that can also express disdain or surprise. でも and か何か loosely offer an example ('or something'), mainly in suggestions or vague statements, and だの〜だの lists things, typically complaints, with a negative tone.
