だの～だの means and; and the like; and so forth ~. It is a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar pattern used to list items or actions in a casual, often dismissive way, suggesting an incomplete list with a tone of annoyance or triviality.
This grammar point appears in spoken Japanese, casual writing, and JLPT N1 reading passages where character attitude matters. If you want to list things while showing mild irritation or that the items are unimportant, だの～だの is a useful pattern to learn because it gives your Japanese a very natural, conversational feel.
What does だの～だの mean?
Use だの～だの when you want to list several things in a way that implies “and such”, “and the like”, or “and so forth”, often with a negative or dismissive slant.
Natural translations include:
- and; and the like; and so forth ~
- things like X and Y
- X, Y, and whatnot (often with a sigh)
The tone is always informal. The speaker isn’t trying to give a complete, neutral list—they are listing examples to make a point, complain, or show that the items are trivial.
How to form だの～だの
Attach だの to the plain (dictionary) form of a word. You can list nouns, verbs, い‑adjectives, and な‑adjectives in the same list. The pattern repeats for each item.
A and B can be nouns, verbs, adjectives — they don't need to match in type.
Examples of the pattern:
- ケーキだのクッキーだの
- 走るだの泳ぐだの
- うれしいだの悲しいだの
- 静かだのうるさいだの
Sometimes など is added at the end to emphasize “and so on”. In JLPT questions, the wrong answer choices often use a similar listing particle but fail to match the casual, dismissive tone.
When is だの～だの used?
Use だの～だの in situations like:
- listing things you find annoying, excessive, or trivial
- quoting someone’s repeated complaints or demands
- showing that a list is only a sample, and the rest is similarly bothersome
- adding a sarcastic or eye-rolling tone
Tone and register:
- very informal; common in daily conversation, manga, and light blogs
- not used in formal writing, business situations, or polite speech
- frequent in JLPT N1 dialogue, where the speaker is frustrated or dismissive
だの～だの example sentences
After reading these, ask yourself what job だの～だの is doing: it lists examples informally while hinting that the list is incomplete and possibly annoying. That’s the nuance beyond a simple “and” or “or”.
Nuance of だの～だの
The key nuance is dismissive, casual, and non-exhaustive listing. Unlike neutral listing particles like や or と, だの～だの injects the speaker’s attitude: that the items are trivial, repetitive, or just “stuff like that”. You can picture the speaker shrugging or rolling their eyes.
In many cases, だの～だの is used when quoting or mimicking someone else’s words (real or imagined), making the list sound like a stream of complaints. For example, a child might imitate a teacher’s nagging: 「宿題忘れただの、教科書忘れただの言ったら怒られた」. This makes the grammar particularly expressive.
Because the pattern is so strongly informal, using it in a polite conversation can sound rude or sarcastic. Pay attention to the context: it fits perfectly in casual chats, but not in a meeting.
だの～だの vs やら～やら
Both だの～だの and やら～やら list items with an “and such” nuance, but the tone and usage differ.
A quick switch example:
- 嬉しいだの悲しいだの — sounds like you’re sarcastically listing someone else’s exaggerated emotions.
- 嬉しいやら悲しいやら — describes your own mixed feelings neutrally.
In JLPT N1 exams, you’ll often need to distinguish the two based on the speaker’s attitude. If the sentence has a whiff of irritation, だの is likely the correct choice.
Common mistakes with だの～だの
A practical self-check: after writing a sentence with だの, ask “Does this sound like I’m a bit annoyed or just rattling off items carelessly?” If the answer is no, swap it for や or など.
Is だの～だの on the JLPT?
Yes. だの～だの is firmly a JLPT N1 grammar point. You will most often encounter it in reading comprehension passages where a character is speaking informally, complaining, or teasing. The test expects you to understand:
- the dismissive, non-exhaustive list nuance
- the informality of the pattern
- why it’s inappropriate in formal settings
For test preparation, focus on recognizing the tone: if a speaker in a dialogue says 「仕事だの人間関係だの」, you can infer they’re venting, not making a professional report.
Practice questions for だの～だの
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Think of something a parent, teacher, or boss nags you about. Write a sentence using **だの～だの** to list their repeated requests.
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You're chatting with a friend about things that annoy you about your daily routine. List three or four items using **だの～だの** to show you're fed up.
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Read the following dialogue. Why did the speaker choose **だの～だの**? What's the mood?
「朝から電車遅れるだの、傘忘れるだの、ついてないなあ」
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Rewrite a neutral list (using や) into a dismissive one using **だの～だの**, and notice how the meaning shifts.
Keep your first sentences short. Once you feel the dismissive rhythm, building longer lists becomes very natural.
Learning path for だの～だの
Related grammar to review next
- だろうに – adds a feeling of regret or sympathy; a completely different tone but also used in casual complaints.
- だに～だにしない – emphasizes “not even” with a very formal/classical nuance; the opposite register of だの.
- であれ～であれ – “whether A or B”; a formal, hypothetical listing; contrast with the casual dismissiveness of だの.
- ぶる・ぶって・ぶった – “to act like”; used for describing annoying behavior, often paired with だの listing of those behaviors.
Learn だの～だの with Hane
If you want to review だの～だの together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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FAQ about だの～だの
What does だの～だの mean in Japanese?
だの～だの means “and; and the like; and so forth ~” in Japanese. It is an N1 grammar point, and this lesson explains its formation, nuance, example sentences, common mistakes, and similar grammar.
Is だの～だの on the JLPT?
だの～だの is taught as N1 Japanese grammar in Hane's grammar lesson archive. Review it with examples, usage notes, and related N1 patterns.
How should I practice だの～だの?
Read several example sentences, identify the form before and after だの～だの, then make your own short sentences and compare it with nearby grammar points.