〜やら (~yara) — some ~ or other (who knows what / who / where)
Like 「何か」「誰か」, but with a touch of mystery: 'I can't tell exactly what'.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
Late at night in your apartment, a sound comes from next door. What is it? No idea. That's when you say 「何やら変な音が聞こえる」— 'some strange noise or other is coming through.'
Meaning
- A question word + 「やら」— 何やら・誰やら・どこやら — means 'something, someone, somewhere' like N4 「何か・誰か・どこか」, but adds 'I can't say exactly what/who, it's a bit of a mystery'.
- 「何やら」can also work as an adverb, 'somehow, for some reason': 「何やら難しそうな話をしている」.
How to attach
Attach it as question word + 「やら」, then whatever particle is needed (が・と・で…).
Versus what you know
- In Lesson 6 you met 「いつまで続くのやら」, a sigh at the end of a sentence ('who knows how long it'll last!'); this 「やら」sits inside the sentence, and 「何やら」acts like one whole word — subject, object or adverb.
- N2Don't mix it up with N2 listing 「泣くやら笑うやら」either.
Watch out
The key rule: it only reports something you truly can't identify, that you see or hear — it doesn't fit a request or a question (×「何やらをください」); there, 「何か」is the word.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
隣の部屋から、何やら変な音が聞こえてくる。
となりのへやから、なにやらへんなおとがきこえてくる。
Some strange noise or other is coming from the next room.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 何 = what → we attach 「やら」: 何やら = who knows what (not clear exactly) → then 変な音が聞こえてくる = a strange noise is coming.
課長は電話で、誰やらと小声で話している。
かちょうはでんわで、だれやらとこごえではなしている。
The section chief is talking quietly on the phone with someone or other.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 誰 = who → 「やら」: 誰やら = someone or other (name unknown) → 「と」= with → 小声で話している = is talking in a low voice.
この人の顔、どこやらで見たような気がする。
このひとのかお、どこやらでみたようなきがする。
I feel like I've seen this person's face somewhere or other.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) どこ = where → 「やら」: どこやら = somewhere or other → 「で」= at → 見たような気がする = I feel I've seen it (I don't remember for sure).
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「玄関の前に、＿＿大きな荷物が置いてある。」— 'some big package or other': fill the blank.
💡 Hint: Question word + 'who knows'.
Question word + やら = some ~ or other. 何やら大きな荷物 = some big package or other. 「とて」「にて」「との」don't attach to a question word like this.
In which sentence is 「やら」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Reporting what you notice, or making a request?
やら only reports something you can't identify that you see or hear. For a request, say 「何か飲み物をください」.
In which sentence does question word + やら work inside the sentence as one word, 'some ~ or other'?
💡 Hint: Not a list, and not a sigh at the end of a sentence.
何やら焦げたにおい = a smell of something or other burning — this lesson's やら. 「〜やら〜やら」is a list (N2), and 「いつまで続くのやら」is the end-of-sentence sigh (Lesson 6).
Your score: /3