GRAMMAR DETAIL
〜など
Presents the preceding items as examples while implying that similar items also exist.
Examples
休みには掃除や洗濯などをします。
On my days off, I do things such as cleaning and laundry.
Words used
机の上にノートやペンなどがある。
There are notebooks, pens, and other things on the desk.
Words used
休日は美術館や博物館などを訪れます。
On holidays, I visit art museums and other museums.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Add
などafter an example or a list.掃除や洗濯など,ノートやペンなど
- Basic usage: It presents the preceding items as representative examples, allowing for other similar items as well.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- One example is enough
- It can follow a single example, as in
美術館などを訪れる. A preceding list joined byやis not required.
- It can follow a single example, as in
- Particles after the list
- In
掃除や洗濯などをする,をmarks the activities performed; inノートやペンなどがある,がmarks the objects that exist. Use the particle required by the sentence afterなど.
- In
- Tone compared with とか
- It often fits writing or an organized explanation more readily than example-listing
とか. However, usingなどdoes not by itself put the whole sentence into polite style.
- It often fits writing or an organized explanation more readily than example-listing