きごう〜 lists two or more things as examples, like "what with A and B", and tells you there was a lot going on and that it was hard to cope with. やら follows each item directly: a noun, a verb in the dictionary form, or an い-adjective. The list is often closed with
, giving the reason for what comes next.
、。
What with the cleaning and the packing for the move, I'm busy.
。
Books, clothes and who knows what were scattered around the room.
。
The kids were crying and screaming, and it was a nightmare.
With two feelings that pull different ways, やら〜やら says you felt both at once and could not sort them out.
、。
I was happy and embarrassed at the same time – I didn't know what to feel.
、。
I was so surprised and so moved that I couldn't speak.
やら〜やら or とか〜とか
lists examples neutrally and is the everyday choice. やら〜やら adds that the things piled up on you, so a calm list of what you like sounds wrong with it.
、。
My favourite foods are things like sushi and ramen.
- × 好きな食べ物は、すしやらラーメンやらです → すしとかラーメンとかです
やら〜やら is at home in both speech and writing, and sounds a step more emphatic than とか〜とか.
Lingaku