particle N2 uncommon casualwritten
やら — something or other / I wonder ~
やら
Meaning
① vague indefinite (question word + やら): ~ or other / some ~ or another — leaves the identity deliberately unspecified
② doubt / I wonder (clause + ことやら / のやら): I wonder whether ~ / who knows ~ — marks the speaker's genuine uncertainty about the answer
Key sentence
① vague indefinite (question word + やら)
彼は何やらぶつぶつ言っている。
He's muttering something or other.
② doubt / I wonder (clause + ことやら / のやら)
この先どうなることやら、見当もつかない。
Who knows how things will turn out from here — I have no idea.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Question word, or a clause (often + こと/の) | なに/どこ… + やら; [clause] + ことやら / のやら | 誰やら / どうなることやら |
When: Conveys that the speaker doesn't know, or can't pin down, the answer. Somewhat literary/older-flavoured in the indefinite use.
Examples
① vague indefinite (question word + やら)
どこへ行ったのやら、姿が見えない。
I wonder where he went — he's nowhere to be seen.
② doubt / I wonder (clause + ことやら / のやら)
本当に間に合うのやら、心配だ。
I wonder if we'll really make it in time — I'm worried.
Easily confused with
〜やら〜やら Repeated as 〜やら〜やら it lists a jumble of co-occurring things ('what with X and Y'). This single やら instead marks one vague or unknown item ('something or other / I wonder'). 〜か (indefinite) 何か ('something') is the neutral indefinite; 何やら adds a flavour of mystery or the speaker's inability to make it out — 'something or other, I can't tell what'.
Notes
- The 〜のやら / 〜ことやら ending often pairs with a verb of worry or bewilderment (心配だ, 見当もつかない).
See やら in real sentences
Jengo shows やら 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 Advanced Japanese Grammar.