# とか～とか: things like; among others

> Learn how to use とか～とか, a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar point meaning things like; among others, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.

JLPT level: N4 · Updated: 2026-05-17 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n4-toka-toka/

**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

<div class="formation">
  <div class="formula">Noun/phrase + とか + Noun/phrase + とか</div>
  <ul>
    <li>Noun/phrase + とか + noun/phrase + とか</li>
    <li>とか～とか</li>
    <li>related form: など</li>
  </ul>
</div>

## 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

<div class="examples">
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp"><ruby>週末<rt>しゅうまつ</rt></ruby>は<ruby>映画<rt>えいが</rt></ruby>を<ruby>見<rt>み</rt></ruby>るとか、<ruby>買<rt>か</rt></ruby>い<ruby>物<rt>もの</rt></ruby>するとかします。</div>
    <div class="example-en">On weekends, I do things like watching movies and shopping.</div>
    <div class="example-tag">N4</div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp"><ruby>日本<rt>にほん</rt></ruby><ruby>料理<rt>りょうり</rt></ruby>では<ruby>寿司<rt>すし</rt></ruby>とかラーメンとかが<ruby>好<rt>す</rt></ruby>きです。</div>
    <div class="example-en">For Japanese food, I like things like sushi and ramen.</div>
    <div class="example-tag">N4</div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp"><ruby>旅行<rt>りょこう</rt></ruby>には<ruby>服<rt>ふく</rt></ruby>とか<ruby>薬<rt>くすり</rt></ruby>とかを<ruby>持<rt>も</rt></ruby>って<ruby>行<rt>い</rt></ruby>きます。</div>
    <div class="example-en">I will bring things like clothes and medicine on the trip.</div>
    <div class="example-tag">N4</div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp"><ruby>友達<rt>ともだち</rt></ruby>とカフェに<ruby>行<rt>い</rt></ruby>くとか、<ruby>公園<rt>こうえん</rt></ruby>を<ruby>歩<rt>ある</rt></ruby>くとかしました。</div>
    <div class="example-en">With my friend, I did things like going to a cafe and walking in the park.</div>
    <div class="example-tag">N4</div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp"><ruby>漢字<rt>かんじ</rt></ruby>とか<ruby>文法<rt>ぶんぽう</rt></ruby>とかを<ruby>復習<rt>ふくしゅう</rt></ruby>しました。</div>
    <div class="example-en">I reviewed things like kanji and grammar.</div>
    <div class="example-tag">N4</div>
  </div>
</div>

## 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

<div class="compare">
  <div class="cmp">
    <div class="cmp-head">とか～とか</div>
    <div class="cmp-sub">Lists examples casually; focuses on things like; among others</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg">週末は映画を見るとか、買い物するとかします。</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg-en">On weekends, I do things like watching movies and shopping.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="vs">vs</div>
  <div class="cmp">
    <div class="cmp-head">など</div>
    <div class="cmp-sub">General exemplification; may change the tone, evidence, direction, or relationship in the sentence</div>
  </div>
</div>

## Common mistakes with とか～とか

<div class="mistakes">
  <div class="mline">
    <div class="mark bad">❌</div>
    <div class="mline-body">Copying a dictionary gloss without checking the sentence context</div>
  </div>
  <div class="mline">
    <div class="mark good">✅</div>
    <div class="mline-body">Read the whole sentence to confirm the nuance fits before translating</div>
  </div>
  <div class="mline">
    <div class="mark bad">❌</div>
    <div class="mline-body">Using the wrong verb, adjective, or noun form before とか</div>
  </div>
  <div class="mline">
    <div class="mark good">✅</div>
    <div class="mline-body">Use plain-form verbs or nouns before each とか</div>
  </div>
  <div class="mline">
    <div class="mark bad">❌</div>
    <div class="mline-body">Confusing とか～とか with など because the English can sound similar</div>
  </div>
  <div class="mline">
    <div class="mark good">✅</div>
    <div class="mline-body">Review both patterns in context so you feel the difference in tone and register</div>
  </div>
</div>

## Is とか～とか on the JLPT?

<div class="jlpt-card">
  <div class="jlpt-shield">N4</div>
  <div class="jlpt-info">
    <p>Yes. <strong>とか～とか</strong> is commonly taught as <strong>JLPT N4</strong> grammar.</p>
    <div class="jlpt-checks">
      <ul>
        <li>recognize it in reading</li>
        <li>understand its nuance in context</li>
        <li>use it in simple original sentences</li>
      </ul>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

## Practice questions for とか～とか

<div class="prompts">
  <div class="prompt">
    <div class="prompt-num">1</div>
    <div class="prompt-text">Write one short sentence using the basic structure.</div>
    <div class="prompt-tag">production</div>
  </div>
  <div class="prompt">
    <div class="prompt-num">2</div>
    <div class="prompt-text">Replace the subject, time, or object and keep the same grammar point.</div>
    <div class="prompt-tag">variation</div>
  </div>
  <div class="prompt">
    <div class="prompt-num">3</div>
    <div class="prompt-text">Compare your sentence with the related pattern above.</div>
    <div class="prompt-tag">comparison</div>
  </div>
</div>

## Learning path for とか～とか

<div class="path">
  <div class="path-step">
    <div class="step-num">1</div>
    <div class="step-body">Make one short sentence with <strong>とか～とか</strong> using its most literal meaning.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <div class="step-num">2</div>
    <div class="step-body">Compare it with <a href="/blog/n4-sore-ni/">それに</a> to see how listing nuance changes.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <div class="step-num">3</div>
    <div class="step-body">Add <a href="/blog/n4-shi/">し</a> or <a href="/blog/n4-demo/">でも</a> and observe the difference in tone and scope.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <div class="step-num">4</div>
    <div class="step-body">Write one sentence that changes the subject or time expression, and one that contrasts it with a related pattern below.</div>
  </div>
</div>

## Related grammar to review next

- [それに](/blog/n4-sore-ni/) — adds another way to list, add, limit, or choose information.
- [し](/blog/n4-shi/) — adds another way to list, add, limit, or choose information.
- [でも](/blog/n4-demo/) — adds another way to list, add, limit, or choose information.
- [も](/blog/n4-mo/) — adds another way to list, add, limit, or choose information.

## Learn とか～とか with Hane

If you want to review **とか～とか** together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:
- [All grammar lessons](/blog/)
- [JLPT N4 grammar lessons](/blog/n4/)