のやら～のやら means or ~ (I don’t know) . It is a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar pattern used to list two or more possibilities while emphasizing that the speaker does not know which one is true — often with a sense of frustration, confusion, or disinterest.
This grammar point often appears in conversational Japanese, casual writing, and JLPT N1 listening tasks. If you want to express that you truly don’t know which of several alternatives applies, and you want your Japanese to sound naturally uncertain, のやら～のやら is a powerful addition to your toolbox.
What does のやら～のやら mean?
Use のやら～のやら when you list two (or more) possibilities and underline that you have no reliable information about which one is the case. The speaker’s stance is unclear, irritated, or simply resigned.
Natural translations include:
- whether … or … (I don’t know)
- I’m not sure if it’s X or Y
- X, Y … I can’t tell
The pattern is typically conversational and informal; it’s rarely seen in very formal documents. Use it when talking to friends, writing diary entries, or in casual emails.
How to form のやら～のやら
Examples of the pattern:
- 行くのやら行かないのやら
- 高いのやら安いのやら
- 本当なのやら冗談なのやら
The repetition of のやら is the core of the pattern. It’s common to drop the second のやら if the meaning is clear: のやら～のやら can become のやら… but the full form is more emphatic.
When is のやら～のやら used?
Use のやら～のやら in situations like:
- expressing uncertainty about two contrasting options (go or not go, true or false, etc.)
- showing frustration because you can’t get a clear answer
- being indifferent or resigned about the outcome
- reporting second-hand information where the facts aren’t clear
Tone and register:
- casual, conversational, sometimes slightly emotional
- often appears in spoken Japanese, manga, and informal blog posts
のやら～のやら example sentences
After reading each sentence, notice how のやら～のやら paints a picture of an unresolved situation. It isn’t just a neutral alternative; it tells the listener that the speaker is stuck.
Nuance of のやら～のやら
The key nuance is “I genuinely don’t know — and that bothers me (or I’ve given up).”
This is more than just listing options. If you only want to say “X or Y” in a question, you can use か～か (e.g., 来るか来ないか). Adding のやら layers on emotional colour:
- frustration: you should know, but you don’t
- confusion: the situation is unclear
- resignation: it doesn’t matter, so you stop worrying
Because the pattern repeats, it often feels rhythmic and casual. In JLPT N1 listening, the speaker’s intonation usually drops or trails off, underlining the uncertainty.
のやら～のやら vs か～か
Both patterns list alternatives, but the nuance is different.
If you can feel the speaker’s irritation, use のやら～のやら. If the statement is matter-of-fact, か～か is enough.
Common mistakes with のやら～のやら
Watch out for these mistakes:
A helpful practice method is to write a sentence with のやら～のやら, then rewrite it with か～か. If the feeling of confusion or frustration disappears, explain why in your own words.
Is のやら～のやら on the JLPT?
Yes, のやら～のやら is taught as JLPT N1 grammar. You need to catch it in listening conversations and understand why the speaker sounds unsure or annoyed. The test may also ask you to select the correct structure (なのやら vs. やら) for a given noun/adjective.
Practice questions for のやら～のやら
Once the rhythm feels natural, layer in more context so the emotional tone becomes clear even without an explicit “I’m frustrated.”
Learning path for のやら～のやら
Related grammar to review next
- の至り — extreme degree of emotion (honour/shame); similar “の + noun” N1 pattern
- の極み — the utmost; another elevated “の + noun” expression used in formal or emphatic contexts
- のなんのって — “sooo …” ; an expressive N1 pattern for emphasis, often emotional like のやら～のやら
- のやらものやらことやら — close cousin that lists vague things or states
Learn のやら～のやら with Hane
If you want to review のやら～のやら together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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FAQ about のやら～のやら
What does のやら～のやら (no yara ~ no yara) mean in Japanese?
のやら～のやら (no yara ~ no yara) means “or ~ (I don't know)”. It is JLPT N1 grammar. Use のやら～のやら when you list two (or more) possibilities and underline that you have no reliable information about which one is the case. The speaker’s stance is unclear, irritated, or simply resigned.
How do you form のやら～のやら (no yara ~ no yara)?
Verb (plain) + のやら ⤻ Verb (plain) + のやら い-adj (plain) + のやら ⤻ い-adj (plain) + のやら Noun / な-adj + なのやら ⤻ Noun / な-adj + なのやら
What is the difference between のやら～のやら and か～か?
のやら～のやら: Uncertainty with emotion. か～か: Simple alternative.
What is an example sentence with のやら～のやら (no yara ~ no yara)?
彼が来るのやら来ないのやら、さっぱりわからない。 — Whether he’ll come or won’t come, I have absolutely no idea.