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〜とか

things like, … or something

Noun / plain form + とか (+ Noun / plain form + とか)

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とか gives examples, like や: 映画とか音楽とか, "films, music, that sort of thing". It's casual, and very common in speech.

Unlike や, it can follow verbs and whole phrases: 掃除するとか、買い物に行くとか, "cleaning, going shopping, stuff like that".

On its own it softens a suggestion or a statement, much like "or something": 先生に聞くとかしたらどう?, "why not ask the teacher or something?"

The last item can take とか too, and often does in conversation. In careful or formal writing, stick to や and など instead.

Register: Casual. や and など are the neutral equivalents.

Examples

  • 休やすみの日ひは映画えいがとかを見みます。

    On my days off I watch films and things.

  • りんごとかみかんとかが好すきです。

    I like things like apples and mandarins.

  • 週末しゅうまつは掃除そうじするとか、買かい物ものに行いくとか、いろいろしました。

    At the weekend I did stuff like cleaning and shopping.

  • 分わからなかったら、先生せんせいに聞きくとかしたらどう？

    If you don't get it, why not ask the teacher or something?

  • 田中たなかさんとか、山田やまださんとかが来きました。

    People like Tanaka and Yamada came.

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