〜や (~ya) — one or two / a few ~
「一人や二人」— a small number, said with the feeling 'that's nothing special'.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
First week at a new job, and a strict senior tells you off. You're down, and an old friend says: 「どこの職場にも、厳しい先輩の一人や二人はいるものだよ」— 'Every workplace has one or two strict seniors.'
Meaning
- Number + counter + 「や」+ the next number + the same counter — 一人や二人・一度や二度・一つや二つ・千円や二千円 — means 'one or two, a few', and carries the feeling 'that's normal, no big deal'.
- Three common patterns: ① 〜はいるものだ／ある (there are bound to be one or two), ② 一度や二度の失敗で〜ない (don't give up over one or two failures), ③ 〜ではない (not just one or two = plenty).
How to attach
Attach it as a small number + counter + 「や」+ the next number + the same counter.
Versus what you know
- N4「一人か二人」is also 'one or two', but it is a neutral count; 「や」makes the small number sound small.
- N5It isn't N5 「パンや牛乳」(listing things) either — here only back-to-back numbers.
Watch out
The key rule: only small, neighbouring numbers like one and two (×「三人や八人」), and it doesn't fit an exact head-count (×「参加者は二人や三人でした」— say 「二、三人」there).
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
どこの職場にも、厳しい先輩の一人や二人はいるものだ。
どこのしょくばにも、きびしいせんぱいのひとりやふたりはいるものだ。
Every workplace has one or two strict senior colleagues.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 一人 = one person → 「や」+ 二人 = one or two people → then いるものだ = there always are → a "that's normal, don't worry" feeling.
一度や二度の失敗で、あきらめてはいけない。
いちどやにどのしっぱいで、あきらめてはいけない。
You mustn't give up over one or two failures.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 一度 = once → 「や」+ 二度 = once or twice → 「の失敗」= failures → 〜で、あきらめてはいけない = don't give up over just that → it plays down a small number.
店に文句を言いに来る客は、一人や二人ではない。
みせにもんくをいいにくるきゃくは、ひとりやふたりではない。
It's not just one or two customers who come to the shop to complain.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 一人や二人 = one or two people → then 「ではない」= is not → "not just one or two" = reverse stress: there are many.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「一度＿＿二度の失敗で、落ち込むことはない。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: 'Once or twice' — making a small number sound small.
Number + counter + や + next number + counter. 一度や二度 = once or twice. 「と」joins two separate things, and 「に」「の」make no sense here.
In which sentence is 「〜や〜」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Small neighbouring numbers? An exact count?
〜や〜 is only for small neighbouring numbers like one and two, with the feeling 'just a few, no big deal'. 「三人や八人」can't report how many people came to a meeting.
To say 'It's not just one or two customers who complain (there are many)', which is right?
💡 Hint: 'One or two' + 'is not'.
一人や二人ではない = not just one or two — there are many. 「しかいない」= there are only one or two, 「一人もいない」= there's no one, 「一人ずつ」= one at a time — opposite or different meanings.
Your score: /3