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~というか~というか: meaning, usage and examples

~というか~というか means: ...or should I say... / ...or rather...

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

Examples

1. 彼かれの態度たいどは冷つめたいというか無む関心かんしんというか、とにかく話はなしかけにくい。

   His attitude is cold, or maybe indifferent; either way, he is hard to talk to.

2. この料理りょうりは辛からいというか苦にがいというか、変へんな味あじだ。

   This dish is spicy, or maybe bitter; either way, it tastes strange.

3. 彼かれの行動こうどうは大胆だいたんというか無謀むぼうというか、見みていてはらはらする。

   His behavior is bold, or maybe reckless; it makes me nervous to watch.

4. 今回こんかいの結果けっかは、残念ざんねんというか当然とうぜんというか、複雑ふくざつな気持きもちだ。

   This result is disappointing, or maybe just to be expected; I have mixed feelings.

When to use it

Use というか～というか when you are trying to describe something and cannot find one perfect word, so you give two possible descriptions. It often ends with a summary like 複雑ふくざつな気持きもちだ or とにかく, as in 大胆だいたんというか無謀むぼうというか (bold, or maybe reckless). Adjectives and nouns are the most common.

Nuance

Conversational. It shows the speaker is searching for words, and often sounds slightly surprised or critical. The two descriptions are close in meaning or both partly true, not opposites in a list.

Compare

やら～やら lists several different things or emotions that exist together: うれしいやら悲かなしいやら. というか～というか offers different words for one impression: 冷つめたいというか無む関心かんしんというか. A single というか means "or rather", correcting the word you just used: 友達ともだちというか、家族かぞくみたいな人ひと.

Tip: Use it when you would say "I am not sure if it is X or Y, but..." in English.