〔疑問詞〕〜のやら ([gimonshi] ~no yara) — who knows when / what / how ~
Question word + のやら — a sighing 'who knows', said half to yourself.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- Right in front of your apartment they are digging up the road — drills from seven every morning.
- Shutting the window, you mutter: 「この工事、いつまで続くのやら」— who knows how long this will go on!
Meaning
- Put 「のやら」after a question word like 「いつ・何・どこ・誰・どう」and you get not just 'I don't know' but a sigh of worry, fed-up-ness or wonder.
- It is not a question to anyone — just talking to yourself.
How to attach
- Question word … plain form of a verb or い-adjective + 「のやら」
- For nouns and な-adjectives add 「な」: 何のことなのやら
- With the same meaning you also hear 「〜ことやら」/「〜ものやら」: 「どうなることやら」
- The sentence usually just stops there.
Versus what you know
- The 「いつ終わるのかな」you know from N4/N3 also means 'I wonder when it will end', but it is light, neutral curiosity; 「のやら」carries the 'oh, good grief' feeling.
- In 「〜のやら〜のやら」above there were two options; here there are none — the question word is the heart of it.
Watch out
Since it is your own inner voice, it cannot be used to ask or request (× いつ始まるのやら、教えてください).
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
アパートの前の工事は、いつまで続くのやら。
アパートのまえのこうじは、いつまでつづくのやら。
Who knows how long the construction in front of my apartment will go on.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) いつまで = until when → 続く = to go on (plain form) → attach 「のやら」 → the sentence stops right there: a long-sigh 'who knows'.
彼は何を考えているのやら、急に会社を辞めると言い出した。
かれはなにをかんがえているのやら、きゅうにかいしゃをやめるといいだした。
Who knows what he's thinking — he suddenly announced he's quitting the company.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 何を = what → 考えている = is thinking → 「のやら」 = who knows what he's thinking → then something surprising: 急に辞めると言い出した.
一人で東京へ行った娘は、今ごろどうしているのやら。
ひとりでとうきょうへいったむすめは、いまごろどうしているのやら。
My daughter went off to Tokyo alone — I wonder how she's doing now.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) どう = how → している = is doing → 「のやら」 → a parent's worry: 'how is she doing, I wonder'.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「この雨は、いつになったらやむ＿＿＿。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: There is the question word いつ; a sighing 'who knows'.
Question word … plain verb + のやら: いつになったらやむのやら = who knows when it'll stop.
In which sentence is 「[question word] 〜のやら」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Talking to yourself, or asking someone?
「のやら」is your own inner 'who knows'; it doesn't join a request like 〜てください. To ask, say 「何時に始まるか教えてください」.
What is the difference between 「いつ帰ってくるのやら」and 「いつ帰ってくるのかな」?
💡 Hint: Which one has a sigh in it?
Both mean 'I wonder when he'll be back', but 「のやら」carries stronger worry or exasperation. Both are spoken, said to yourself.
Your score: /3