At a glance
A のやら B のやら means "I can't tell whether it's A or B". It is used when the speaker is unsure or confused between two possibilities, often opposites, or when feelings are mixed.
[Plain form] のやら [Plain form] のやら
彼は嬉しいのやら悲しいのやら、複雑な顔をしていた。 He had a complicated expression; I couldn't tell whether he was happy or sad.
How to form it
Use plain forms before のやら, not polite ます/です forms. Nouns and な-adjectives take な.
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | Plain form (dictionary, ない, た, ている) + のやら | 来るのやら, 来ないのやら, 合格したのやら |
| い-adjective | Plain form + のやら | 嬉しいのやら, 悲しいのやら |
| な-adjective | Stem + な + のやら | 本気なのやら |
| Noun | Noun + な + のやら | 夢なのやら, 冗談なのやら |
Register: slightly literary. It is common in writing and narration.