particle N1 uncommon casualpolitewritten
〜なり〜なり — whether ~ or ~
〜なり〜なり ・ なり〜なり
Meaning
- ~ or ~ (whichever you like) — offers two or more representative options and invites picking one to act on; 'do A or B, whatever works'
Key sentence
電話なりメールなりで、連絡してください。
Get in touch by phone or email — whichever you prefer.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Two parallel nouns or dictionary-form verbs, each + なり | AなりBなり | コーヒーなり紅茶なり / 食べるなり飲むなり |
When: Often carries a nuance of advice or suggestion ('you could do A or B'); the listed items are examples, not an exhaustive set.
Examples
困ったときは、親なり先生なりに相談しなさい。
When you're in trouble, talk to a parent or a teacher or someone.
休むなり病院に行くなり、無理はしないで。
Rest, or go to a doctor, or something — don't push yourself.
Easily confused with
Notes
- Distinct from literary なり 'the moment ~' ([[nari]]); this is the listing/option-giving なり〜なり.
See 〜なり〜なり in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜なり〜なり the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar.