Difference between と and や～など


I know both of these particles are used to list items. So, I was trying to
write the sentence "I like Japanese culture, history and stuff."

> 私は日本文化 **と** 日本史 **といろいろ** が好きです。

But someone told me it is accurate to say

> 私は日本文化 **や** 日本史 **など** が好きです。

Why is this accurate? Is the first sentence grammatically incorrect?




The issue you are facing is that if you say:

> ◯◯ と ◯◯ が好きです

The list formed with と is usually assumed to be an exhaustive list of items,
so if you were using it to say you liked **ONLY** Japanese culture and
Japanese history, then it would be appropriate.

* * *

The form you showed in your first sentence:

> ◯◯といろいろ が好きです

Is awkward to the listener.

While it gets the point across, it is not something you will hear anyone say
because you are trying to make the listing of "various other stuff" part of a
closed list of stuff.

* * *

On the contrary the format:

> ◯◯ や ◯◯ が好きです

Allows the listener to infer that, while you only mention Japanese culture and
history, you are not implying that is the only thing you may be liking. When
listing multiple things you like, や is a superior choice.

In the Japanese language, you do not need to add something to the effect of "
_and stuff_ " because by using the correct particles, you identify that your
list is non exhaustive.

* * *

> 私は日本文化や日本史などが好きです

This sentence is a way of saying "I like things like Japanese culture and
Japanese History"

The reason this is accurate is because it is clear from your question in
English, that you do not intend to limit yourself to only liking the two
things you specifically mentioned.

By using や and など together, you say that your list is non exhaustive, and the
など on the end sort of sticks on the list and says "and things like this" about
the other things you listed.

Hope that helps.




The issue you are facing is that if you say:

> ◯◯ と ◯◯ が好きです

The list formed with と is usually assumed to be an exhaustive list of items,
so if you were using it to say you liked **ONLY** Japanese culture and
Japanese history, then it would be appropriate.

* * *

The form you showed in your first sentence:

> ◯◯といろいろ が好きです

Is awkward to the listener.

While it gets the point across, it is not something you will hear anyone say
because you are trying to make the listing of "various other stuff" part of a
closed list of stuff.

* * *

On the contrary the format:

> ◯◯ や ◯◯ が好きです

Allows the listener to infer that, while you only mention Japanese culture and
history, you are not implying that is the only thing you may be liking. When
listing multiple things you like, や is a superior choice.

In the Japanese language, you do not need to add something to the effect of "
_and stuff_ " because by using the correct particles, you identify that your
list is non exhaustive.

* * *

> 私は日本文化や日本史などが好きです

This sentence is a way of saying "I like things like Japanese culture and
Japanese History"

The reason this is accurate is because it is clear from your question in
English, that you do not intend to limit yourself to only liking the two
things you specifically mentioned.

By using や and など together, you say that your list is non exhaustive, and the
など on the end sort of sticks on the list and says "and things like this" about
the other things you listed.

Hope that helps.

