とか～とか means things like; among others. It is a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar pattern used to express this idea in natural Japanese.
This English meaning is written independently from the source list so it answers the learner question directly: what does とか～とか mean and when should you use it?
What does とか～とか mean?
Use とか～とか when you want to express things like; among others in a Japanese sentence.
Natural translations include:
- things like; among others
- things like
- among others
How to form とか～とか
Noun/phrase + とか + noun/phrase + とか
Examples of the pattern:
- Noun/phrase + とか + noun/phrase + とか
- とか～とか
- related form: など
When is とか～とか used?
Use とか～とか in situations like:
- reading or writing JLPT N4-level sentences
- making a sentence more precise than a basic N5 pattern
- recognizing natural grammar in conversation or short passages
Tone and register:
- usually neutral unless the pattern itself is casual, humble, honorific, or written
- common in JLPT N4 grammar study and everyday examples
とか～とか example sentences
- 週末は映画を見るとか、買い物するとかします。 — On weekends, I do things like watching movies and shopping.
- 日本料理では寿司とかラーメンとかが好きです。 — For Japanese food, I like things like sushi and ramen.
- 旅行には服とか薬とかを持って行きます。 — I will bring things like clothes and medicine on the trip.
- 友達とカフェに行くとか、公園を歩くとかしました。 — With my friend, I did things like going to a cafe and walking in the park.
- 漢字とか文法とかを復習しました。 — I reviewed things like kanji and grammar.
Nuance of とか～とか
The key nuance is things like; among others in context, not a word-for-word English replacement.
This matters because とか～とか often changes the relationship between actions, people, time, or evidence in the sentence. Read the whole sentence before choosing the English translation.
とか～とか vs など
Both patterns can appear in related sentences, but they do different jobs.
とか～とか:
- is the target JLPT N4 pattern in this lesson
- focuses on things like; among others
など:
- is useful for comparison because learners often confuse nearby forms
- may change the tone, evidence, direction, or relationship in the sentence
Quick contrast examples:
- Target pattern: 週末は映画を見るとか、買い物するとかします。 — On weekends, I do things like watching movies and shopping.
- Related pattern with など: compare what changes in evidence, timing, direction, or politeness.
Common mistakes with とか～とか
Watch out for these mistakes:
- Copying a dictionary gloss without checking the sentence context
- Using the wrong verb, adjective, or noun form
- Confusing とか～とか with など because the English can sound similar
Is とか～とか on the JLPT?
Yes. とか～とか is connected to JLPT N4 grammar in this blog.
That means learners should be able to:
- recognize it in reading
- understand its nuance in context
- use it in simple original sentences
Practice questions for とか～とか
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
- Write one short sentence using the basic structure.
- Replace the subject, time, or object and keep the same grammar point.
- Compare your sentence with the related pattern above.
Learn とか～とか with Kanjiru
If you want to review とか～とか together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N4 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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