GRAMMAR DETAIL

や

and · such as

Connects nouns to give several representative items without presenting an exhaustive list.

Examples

机の上に本やノートがあります。

There are books, notebooks, and other items on the desk.

旅行には地図や水が必要です。

You need things such as a map and water for the trip.

冷蔵庫に野菜や果物があります。

There are vegetables, fruit, and other foods in the refrigerator.

Structure: Put や between nouns.
Basic usage: It gives representative items while leaving the list open, as in 本やノート.

Examples that include both items
- 地図や水が必要です presents a map, water, and similar things as examples of what is needed. It is not a choice requiring only one of the two.
と and など
- 本とノート presents the two items together, while 本やノートなど makes the example-listing role explicit. A list with や does not always require a final など.