Difference between も and や particle when listing nouns


They are both used on non-exhaustive lists but how do I know what particle to
use? Is there a nuance?




There is a difference. も is used to indicate that the noun it follows is
connected to something previously mentioned. や is used to indicate that the
list of items mentioned is only a partial list, and that other things could be
added. But perhaps you meant も...も when listing things? See below.

> 私 **も** 行きたい。 I want to go too.  
>  デパートで服 **や** 本を買った。 I bought clothes and books (among other things) at the
> department store.

You can use も...も to list more than one thing, but now you are emphasizing
each of those items, rather than implying that there are more things in the
list. For example,

> 私はビール **も** ワイン **も** 好きです。 I like both beer and wine.

Compare that with the use of や...や (which needs など to complete it), where the
items are not specifically emphasised and it is implied that other items could
be added:

> 宴会の料理は、てんぷら **や** 、すし **や** 、さしみ **など** だった。The food at the party was
> tempura, sushi, sashimi, and so forth.

