ISORI

など

JLPT N5:

and so on; such as

After a noun, など marks it as one example among others: "X and so on", "things like X". The same など can also wave something away: "the likes of X", usually before a negative.

How to form it

  • Put など after the last example, often closing a list joined with や: 本(ほん)やペンなど.
  • など can follow a single noun: お茶(ちゃ)などはどうですか (how about something like tea?).
  • Particles come after など: 本(ほん)などを買(か)いました.

Examples

机(つくえ)の上(うえ)に本(ほん)やペンなどがあります。

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

飲(の)み物(もの)はお茶(ちゃ)などがいいです。

For a drink, something like tea would be good.

Notes

  • Naming something with など can also play it down, as "the likes of" or "such a thing as", usually with a negative: 幽霊(ゆうれい)など信(しん)じません (I don't believe in such things as ghosts), 謝(あやま)る必要(ひつよう)などありません (there's no need at all to apologise). It is the same など: the example is named only to be dismissed.

Similar meaning

  • 〜とかthings like, casual listing

    Casual spoken counterpart: 本(ほん)とかペンとか.

Same form, different meaning