なり〜なり

JLPT N1approx.Neutral
Meaning

"A or B (or something like that)". It lists possible options as examples and suggests the listener choose one, typically in advice, instructions or suggestions about something still to be done.

Formation
Verb (dictionary form)+なり+Verb (dictionary form)+なり+する聞くなり調べるなりしなさい
Noun+なり+Noun+なり電話なりメールなり

Follow-up: often followed by a command, suggestion or permission expression such as 〜しなさい or 〜すればいい(好きにすればいい)

Examples
分わからないなら、先生せんせいに聞きくなり辞書じしょで調しらべるなりしなさい。
If you don't understand, ask your teacher or look it up in a dictionary.
暇ひまなら、本ほんを読よむなり散歩さんぽするなり、好すきにすればいい。
If you're free, read a book, take a walk, or do whatever you like.
Usage

Used when advising or urging someone to take some action, with the listed items offered as sample choices rather than a complete list. It usually appears in forward-looking sentences with commands, suggestions or permission. Unlike 〜たり〜たり, it does not simply describe activities. Unlike 〜やら〜やら or だの〜だの, it does not list things that happened or things someone complains about.

Watch out

Do not use なり〜なり to describe past or completed actions; it presents options for something yet to be done.

Note that the listed items are only examples, so the listener may choose another similar option.

Note that because it sounds like giving instructions, it can come across as blunt when addressed to superiors.

Easily confused with
  • であれ〜であれN2「であれ〜であれ」means the latter part holds true whether it is A or B, not choosing one to act on; it attaches only to nouns and な-adjectives, with a formal, written tone. The two are not interchangeable.
  • 〜やら〜やらN1「やら〜やら」gives examples to convey that things are numerous and messy, or lists intertwined complex feelings, describing a state; 「なり〜なり」picks one option from several and often ends with advice or commands. The two are not interchangeable.
  • 〜たり〜たりするN3「〜たり〜たりする」attaches to verbs, adjectives, and nouns, listing representative examples or showing alternating repetition, not choosing one; 「なり〜なり」attaches to verbs or nouns, focuses on choosing one, and is mostly used for suggestions or requests. They are not interchangeable.
  • だの〜だのN2「なり〜なり」picks one option from several and often ends with advice or commands; 「だの〜だの」lists complaints, excuses, and the like with a dissatisfied tone, often followed by 「と言う」, and leans colloquial. The two are not interchangeable.

であれ〜であれ means "whether A or B, it's the same" and stresses that the choice doesn't matter, while なり〜なり urges the listener to pick an action. 〜たり〜たりする neutrally lists sample activities in any tense, 〜やら〜やら lists a jumble of things that happened, and だの〜だの lists things with a complaining tone. None of these three carries なり〜なり's sense of suggesting options.

Grammar · JLPT grammar levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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