GRAMMAR DETAIL

〜だの〜だの

and the like · and whatnot

Lists examples of words or actions while showing that the speaker views them with annoyance or as unimportant.

Examples

彼は忙しいだの疲れただのと言って、手伝おうとしない。

He says he is busy, he is tired, and so on, and makes no attempt to help.

価格だの色だのと、客は質問を続けた。

The customer kept asking about the price, the color, and whatnot.

部屋が狭いだの駅が遠いだのと、彼は不満を並べた。

He complained that the room was small, the station was far away, and so on.

Structure: Repeated だの after nouns or plain forms lists remarks or matters while adding annoyance or a dismissive attitude.
Basic usage: 彼は忙しいだの疲れただのと言って、手伝おうとしない。 disapprovingly portrays being busy and tired as excuses for not helping.

Unlike a neutral list
- 価格や色を尋ねる neutrally lists subjects of questions. 価格だの色だのと尋ねる more readily conveys annoyance at questions about this and that.
Listing clauses
- 忙しいだの疲れただの directly connects an i-adjective and a plain-form verb respectively. The following と言う groups those contents as remarks.