とか【で】

The grammar point とか (when used at the end of a sentence) conveys hearsay with vagueness or uncertainty. It indicates that the speaker heard something but is reporting it in a non-committal, imprecise way – as if saying "I heard that… or something like that" or "they said something like…". This distinguishes it from the more neutral hearsay marker そうだ or the quotative といっていた言っていた.

By adding とか, the speaker softens the report, suggesting they are not fully sure of the details, don't want to commit to the accuracy of the information, or are deliberately being vague about the source.

Basic usage

Attach とか to the plain form of a verb or to a noun at the end of a sentence.

Nuance

This usage of とか carries a distinctly casual and indirect tone. The speaker distances themselves from the information – they may have overheard it, been told in passing, or simply not remember the details well. It is common in everyday conversation and casual writing but would sound too vague for formal reporting.

Compare:

• たなか田中さんがてんしょく転職するそうだ。 – I heard Tanaka is changing jobs. (neutral hearsay)
• たなか田中さん、てんしょく転職するとか。 – I heard Tanaka is changing jobs or something. (vague, non-committal)

With だ before とか (nouns and na-adjectives)

When the preceding word is a noun or na-adjective, だ is inserted before とか.

Common patterns

Sometimes とか appears paired with expressions like きいた聞いた for extra clarity: