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JLPT N5 grammar comparison

や (and, among others) vs など

By Nihongo PathUpdated

The difference

From the や (and, among others) lesson

など: など = "etc." and follows the last item of a や list.

From the など lesson

や (and, among others): や goes between examples; など goes after the last one.

Side by side

や (and, among others)

ya (and, among others) · JLPT N5

Meaning
"and (for example)" — an incomplete list of nouns.
Formation
Noun + や + Noun (本やペン)Noun + や + Noun + など (本やペンなど)
  1. 机の上に本やペンがあります。

    つくえの うえに ほんや ペンが あります。

    There are books, pens and so on on the desk.

  2. 週末は掃除や洗濯をします。

    しゅうまつは そうじや せんたくを します。

    At the weekend I do cleaning, laundry and such.

Full lesson on や (and, among others)

など

nado · JLPT N5

Meaning
"and so on / etc." — an incomplete list of nouns.
Formation
Noun + や + Noun + など
  1. 机の上に本やノートなどがあります。

    つくえの うえに ほんや ノートなどが あります。

    There are books, notebooks and so on on the desk.

  2. 京都や奈良などへ行きたいです。

    きょうとや ならなどへ いきたいです。

    I want to go to Kyoto, Nara and other such places.

Full lesson on など

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between や (and, among others) and など?

など = "etc." and follows the last item of a や list.

When do you use など instead of や (and, among others)?

や goes between examples; など goes after the last one.