〜のやら〜のやら (~no yara ~no yara) — (I can't tell) whether ~ or ~
'Is it this or that?' — confusion and mixed feelings, in spoken Japanese.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- Your boss calls you in: 「来月から主任だ。ただし、北海道の支店でね」— a promotion, but also a transfer far away.
- Happy or sad? Telling a friend, you say: 「喜んでいいのやら悲しんでいいのやら」.
- It is emotional, spoken Japanese.
Meaning
- 「〜のやら〜のやら」usually sets out two opposite possibilities and gives the feeling 'I can't tell which it is myself' — confusion or mixed feelings.
- It is the voice of a mind going back and forth.
How to attach
- Plain form of a verb or い-adjective + 「のやら」: 怒っているのやら・いいのやら
- For nouns and な-adjectives add 「な」: 本当なのやら
- Something like わからない follows, or the sentence simply stops there.
Versus what you know
- N2In 「うれしいやら悲しいやら」(no の) both feelings are there at once; add 「の」and it becomes 'is it this or that? I can't tell'.
- The 「〜とも〜とも」above also means 'can't say which', but it is calm, written and needs 言えない／つかない after it.
Watch out
- Since it means 'I can't tell which', it clashes with a clear conclusion like 「はっきりわかった」.
- It is not used in formal reports.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
転勤付きの昇進なんて、喜んでいいのやら悲しんでいいのやらわからない。
てんきんつきのしょうしんなんて、よろこんでいいのやらかなしんでいいのやらわからない。
A promotion that comes with a transfer — I don't know whether to be happy or sad.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 喜んでいい = it's OK to be happy ＋「のやら」 → 悲しんでいい = it's OK to be sad ＋「のやら」 → then わからない → 'I don't know whether to be happy or sad'.
電話の向こうの息子は、怒っているのやら泣いているのやらわからない。
でんわのむこうのむすこは、おこっているのやらないているのやらわからない。
I can't tell whether my son on the other end of the phone is angry or crying.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 怒っている = is angry ＋「のやら」 → 泣いている = is crying ＋「のやら」 → わからない → you can only hear the voice, so you can't tell which it is.
その噂が本当なのやら嘘なのやら、誰に聞いてもはっきりしない。
そのうわさがほんとうなのやらうそなのやら、だれにきいてもはっきりしない。
Whether that rumor is true or false, no one I ask can say for sure.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 本当 = true (N) → add 「な」: 本当な ＋「のやら」 → 嘘 → 嘘な ＋「のやら」 → then はっきりしない (it isn't clear).
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「その話が本当＿＿嘘＿＿、よくわからない。」— fill the blanks.
💡 Hint: 本当 and 嘘 are nouns; what comes before のやら?
N／な-adj + な + のやら: 本当なのやら嘘なのやら.
In which sentence is 「〜のやら〜のやら」unnatural?
💡 Hint: The form means 'I can't tell which'.
「のやら〜のやら」= I can't tell which. So it clashes with 「はっきりわかった」(I knew clearly).
What is the difference between 「うれしいのやら悲しいのやら」and the N2 form 「うれしいやら悲しいやら」?
💡 Hint: Adding 「の」brings in the question 'which one?'.
やら〜やら (N2) = both feelings at once. のやら〜のやら = this or that, I can't tell myself. Both are spoken forms.
Your score: /3