An introduction to Japanese - Syntax, Grammar & Language

4.3. MORE PARTICLES 199

which means a lot of sentences don’t seem to makes sense, after which

you’ll start hearing only , which means a lot more sentences will make

sense, but you’ll suddenly no longer be able to tell when a normal + is

used. Only after a while more will you start to be able to distinguish both

for what they really are.

• Representative

This particle is used in the same way as or , acting as a noun lister.

When used, it sets up a representative list, and because it’s representative

only, it can be used for either a single, or multiple terms:

”(I) hate things like sashimi.”

”(I) went to buy stuff like food and drinks.”

• (Vaguely) representative

This is a rough listing particle, similar to in use. This particle has come

from

through

to the current. Like , it can be used either

for listing, or for single representative statements.

The colloquial version of this particle is, somewhat surprisingly,

. This colloquial version is not used for the listing version of , but
only for its single use:

”(I) don’t care for [things like] cheap stuff.”