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〜やら〜やら

what with … and …; all sorts of

Noun / Plain form + やら + Noun / Plain form + やら

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やら〜やら lists examples from a chaotic or overwhelming situation: 引っ越しやら仕事やらで、忙しい, "what with the move and work, I'm really busy".

It's like とか〜とか, but with a sense of things piling up and being hard to cope with. It's often followed by で to give a reason, or by a word like 大変 or 大騒ぎ.

It can mix conflicting feelings: うれしいやら恥ずかしいやら, "happy and embarrassed at the same time".

On its own, 何やら means "something or other", a vague "something": 何やら変な音がする, "there's some strange noise".

Examples

  • 引ひっ越こしやら仕事しごとやらで、忙いそがしい。

    What with the move and work, I'm really busy.

  • うれしいやら恥はずかしいやらで、顔かおが赤あかくなった。

    I was so happy and embarrassed that I went red.

  • 泣なくやら叫さけぶやら、大騒おおさわぎだった。

    What with the crying and shouting, it was a real commotion.

  • 何なにやら変へんな音おとがする。

    There's some strange noise or other.

  • 宿題しゅくだいやらレポートやらで、寝ねる時間じかんもない。

    What with homework and reports, I don't even have time to sleep.

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