903 - など
JLPT N3: など (something like, someone like)
You might have seen など used when making lists, kind of like an "et cetera." For example, back in the N3 lesson on において, we saw this sentence:
いかなる場合においても、性別・人種・宗教・年齢・性的指向などによる差別があってはならない。
いかなる ばあい において も、 せいべつ・じんしゅ・しゅうきょう・ねんれい・せいてきしこう など による さべつ が あってはならない。
Regardless of the situation, discrimination based on sex, race, religion, age, sexual orientation, and so on is impermissible.
Literally: “any kind of + situation + において + も, + (distinction of) sex + race + religion + age + sexual preference/orientation + and the like + according to / depending on (=による) + discrimination + が + there must not be (=あってはならない).”
However, など has another (and far more fun) usage. Lucky for us, that's the one we're going to be studying in this lesson!
This など is used to show that you don't think too highly of something. Maybe it's something you're just not a fan of, maybe you dislike it, or maybe you downright loathe it. In any case, by just adding など after said something, you can express just that.
All you have to do is add など after the thing you're showing dislike towards. The thing will need to be a NOUN, so make sure you nominalize any verbs (i.e. add こと, もの, etc. at the end of the plain form).
The end of your sentence will also express your negativity towards what you're talking about. Makes sense, right? I mean, you're not going to be praising anything you hate.
For example:
休みの日に宿題などやりたくない。
やすみ の ひ に しゅくだい など やりたくない。
I don’t want to do stupid homework when I don’t even have school.
Literally: “rest + の + days + に + homework + など + don’t want to do.”
I'm sure you all know the feeling. Studying is fun when it's something you're passionate about (that's why you're here, right?), but when it's something compulsory that you really could not care less about... Yeah, no thanks. Sure, you could leave out the など and it would make sense, but adding it really emphasizes that you don't want to do it because it sucks.
Making sense yet? Don't worry if not. Let's take a look at a couple more examples.
周りの目など気にするな。
まわり の め など きにするな。
Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks.
Literally: “what others think about you (=around + の + eyes) + など + don’t worry (=[command]).”
What anyone else thinks? You shouldn't care because it doesn't matter. What does it have to do with them? Great life advice, in my opinion.
友達の物を盗むような人など、このクラスにはいません。
ともだち の もの を ぬすむ ような ひと など、 この クラス に は いません。
No one in this class would do something as awful as stealing from their friend.
Literally: “friend + の + thing + を + steal + like + person + など, + this + class + に + は + there is not.”
Stealing from your friend? The worst. Awful. Who would do that? Don't be that guy.
Sometimes, you'll see a particle slipped between the noun and など. Here's an example of how to use it with に:
南極へなど、行きたくない。
なんきょく へ など、 いきたくない。
I'd never want to step foot somewhere like the South Pole.
Literally: "South Pole + へ + など, + don't want to go."
This use of など can also be used to show humility in formal situations, i.e. when talking to your superior at work, or, I dunno, the Queen? If you're not sure what that means, hopefully the below example will clear it up:
私などでよろしければ、喜んでお引き受けいたします。
わたし など で よろしければ、 よろこんで おひきうけ いたします。
If you’re sure you don’t mind me doing it, I’d be happy to take it on.
Literally: “I + など + で + if (you are) okay, + be pleased (and) + undertaking + (humbly) do.”
⚠️ Warning: incoming tangent ⚠️
When translating this sentence, I was tempted to use "little ol' me," but then I realized that's usually used in a sarcastic/joking way. However, it does capture the meaning pretty well, in my opinion. Just not the intent. Another translation I considered was "me of all people," but again, it doesn't quite capture the implication. You don't actually hate yourself or think you're not good enough in this sentence, you're just being polite.
Okay, that's enough of my rambling...
🏁 End tangent! 🏁
One final note:
When you're not talking to the Queen, or you two are super tight and just chilling up in the palace on even ground, you can replace など with the informal versions, なんか or なんて. We'll be looking at both of these in the N3 lesson right after this one.
That's it! This usage of など is not only common, it's also really fun. I mean, who doesn't love complaining? I know I do.
Give yourself a pat on the back. You did it!
Complete and Continue
You might have seen など used when making lists, kind of like an "et cetera." For example, back in the N3 lesson on において, we saw this sentence:
いかなる場合においても、性別・人種・宗教・年齢・性的指向などによる差別があってはならない。
いかなる ばあい において も、 せいべつ・じんしゅ・しゅうきょう・ねんれい・せいてきしこう など による さべつ が あってはならない。
Regardless of the situation, discrimination based on sex, race, religion, age, sexual orientation, and so on is impermissible.
Literally: “any kind of + situation + において + も, + (distinction of) sex + race + religion + age + sexual preference/orientation + and the like + according to / depending on (=による) + discrimination + が + there must not be (=あってはならない).”
However, など has another (and far more fun) usage. Lucky for us, that's the one we're going to be studying in this lesson!
This など is used to show that you don't think too highly of something. Maybe it's something you're just not a fan of, maybe you dislike it, or maybe you downright loathe it. In any case, by just adding など after said something, you can express just that.
All you have to do is add など after the thing you're showing dislike towards. The thing will need to be a NOUN, so make sure you nominalize any verbs (i.e. add こと, もの, etc. at the end of the plain form).
The end of your sentence will also express your negativity towards what you're talking about. Makes sense, right? I mean, you're not going to be praising anything you hate.
For example:
休みの日に宿題などやりたくない。
やすみ の ひ に しゅくだい など やりたくない。
I don’t want to do stupid homework when I don’t even have school.
Literally: “rest + の + days + に + homework + など + don’t want to do.”
I'm sure you all know the feeling. Studying is fun when it's something you're passionate about (that's why you're here, right?), but when it's something compulsory that you really could not care less about... Yeah, no thanks. Sure, you could leave out the など and it would make sense, but adding it really emphasizes that you don't want to do it because it sucks.
Making sense yet? Don't worry if not. Let's take a look at a couple more examples.
周りの目など気にするな。
まわり の め など きにするな。
Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks.
Literally: “what others think about you (=around + の + eyes) + など + don’t worry (=[command]).”
What anyone else thinks? You shouldn't care because it doesn't matter. What does it have to do with them? Great life advice, in my opinion.
友達の物を盗むような人など、このクラスにはいません。
ともだち の もの を ぬすむ ような ひと など、 この クラス に は いません。
No one in this class would do something as awful as stealing from their friend.
Literally: “friend + の + thing + を + steal + like + person + など, + this + class + に + は + there is not.”
Stealing from your friend? The worst. Awful. Who would do that? Don't be that guy.
Sometimes, you'll see a particle slipped between the noun and など. Here's an example of how to use it with に:
南極へなど、行きたくない。
なんきょく へ など、 いきたくない。
I'd never want to step foot somewhere like the South Pole.
Literally: "South Pole + へ + など, + don't want to go."
This use of など can also be used to show humility in formal situations, i.e. when talking to your superior at work, or, I dunno, the Queen? If you're not sure what that means, hopefully the below example will clear it up:
私などでよろしければ、喜んでお引き受けいたします。
わたし など で よろしければ、 よろこんで おひきうけ いたします。
If you’re sure you don’t mind me doing it, I’d be happy to take it on.
Literally: “I + など + で + if (you are) okay, + be pleased (and) + undertaking + (humbly) do.”
⚠️ Warning: incoming tangent ⚠️
When translating this sentence, I was tempted to use "little ol' me," but then I realized that's usually used in a sarcastic/joking way. However, it does capture the meaning pretty well, in my opinion. Just not the intent. Another translation I considered was "me of all people," but again, it doesn't quite capture the implication. You don't actually hate yourself or think you're not good enough in this sentence, you're just being polite.
Okay, that's enough of my rambling...
🏁 End tangent! 🏁
One final note:
When you're not talking to the Queen, or you two are super tight and just chilling up in the palace on even ground, you can replace など with the informal versions, なんか or なんて. We'll be looking at both of these in the N3 lesson right after this one.
That's it! This usage of など is not only common, it's also really fun. I mean, who doesn't love complaining? I know I do.
Give yourself a pat on the back. You did it!