N1 Listing and Enumeration

~だの〜だの: meaning, usage and examples

~だの〜だの means: ...and...and... (listing, often complaints).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 彼かれは給料きゅうりょうが安やすいだの、仕事しごとが忙いそがしいだの、文句もんくばかり言いっている。

   He is always complaining that his pay is low, that he is too busy at work, and so on.

2. 部屋へやにはお菓子かしだの雑誌ざっしだのが散ちらかっていた。

   Snacks, magazines, and the like were scattered around the room.

3. 弟おとうとは、眠ねむいだの腹はらが減へっただの、文句もんくばかり言いう。

   My younger brother does nothing but complain that he is sleepy, that he is hungry, and so on.

4. 引ひっ越こしのときは、ガスだの電気でんきだのの手続てつづきが面倒めんどうだった。

   When I moved, the paperwork for gas, electricity and so on was a hassle.

When to use it

Lists examples, usually things someone says or a messy collection, with a feeling of annoyance. Example: 忙いそがしいだの、疲つかれただの、文句もんくばかりだ (it is always complaints: busy, tired, and so on). It often ends with と言いう or ばかり, and can list both statements and objects.

Nuance

Conversational and negative: it suggests complaining, excuses or clutter. It sounds critical of the speaker it quotes, so avoid it for neutral lists in polite writing. Usually not about the speaker's own polite actions. The final だの may be followed by と or が.

Compare

だの〜だの is a critical list: 高たかいだの遠とおいだの言いう. やら〜やら is a confused or mixed list, often of feelings: うれしいやら恥はずかしいやら. とか〜とか is the neutral casual list. や〜など is neutral and written: 本ほんや雑誌ざっしなど.

Tip: If the list sounds like grumbling or a pile of things, だの fits. For a polite neutral list, use や〜など.