Noun なり Noun なり

When to use

Formal, literary "either A or B, for example" - lists representative alternatives of the same kind.

Explanation

The pattern AなりBなり is used to suggest alternatives or options, usually of the same category. It can be translated as 'whether A or B' or 'A or B, for example'.

• 映画えいがなり、音楽おんがくなり、何なにか趣味しゅみはありますか。

  Do you have any hobbies, such as movies or music?

  Eiga nari, ongaku nari, nanika shumi wa arimasu ka?

• 紅茶こうちゃなり、コーヒーなり、何なにか飲のみ物ものをください。

  Please give me something to drink, like tea or coffee.

  Koucha nari, koohii nari, nanika nomimono o kudasai.

• パンなり、おにぎりなり、何なにか食たべてください。

  Please eat something—bread, onigiri, or whatever you’d like.

  Pan nari, onigiri nari, nanika tabete kudasai.

• タクシーなり、バスなりに乗のって来きてください。

  Please come by either taxi or bus.

  Takushii nari, basu nari ni notte kite kudasai.

Regardless (Whether A Or B)

• A うと B うとA uto B utoN1Shows that the speaker is indifferent to both conditions…
• A かれ B かれA kare B kareN1Expresses 'whether A or B'; both situations are included.
• A であれ B であれA deare B deareN1Indicates the same statement applies to both A and B…
• A とも B ともA tomo B tomoN1Expresses two possibilities; 'either A or B', 'whether A…
• A あるいは BA aruiwa BN2Indicates alternatives; 'A or B', 'either A or B'.
• A にしろ B にしろA nishiro B nishiroN1Means 'whether it is A or B'; 'regardless of A or B'.
• A にせよ B にせよA ni seyo B ni seyoN1Either A or B; Regardless of whether it's A or B.
• A につけ B につけA ni tsuke B ni tsukeN1Expresses 'whether... or...', 'both... and...', 'in either…
• Noun といい Noun といい〜to ii〜to iiN1Used to express 'both A and B'; 'whether it's A or B'…
• Noun といわず Noun といわずA to iwazu B to iwazuN1Expresses 'both A and B' or 'be it A or B'; applies to…
• ～にしろ～にしろ〜ni shiro 〜ni shiroN2Expresses 'either way', 'in any case', 'be it...', used…
• A うが B うがA uga B ugaN1Expresses the idea of 'no matter how... or', 'even if...…

Compare when to use each