JLPT N1 grammar

〜というか〜というかmeaning and usage

Meaning

(not sure if it's) A or B

How to form it

  • noun/な-adjective (stem)というかnoun/な-adjective (stem)というか
  • verb (plain form)/い-adjectiveというかverb (plain form)/い-adjectiveというか

How it is used

Offers two descriptions while searching for the right word, 'A, or maybe B', usually followed by an overall impression. Spoken. 「というより」 picks one over the other; a single 「というか」 just rephrases.

Examples

  1. 彼女は面白いというかユニークというか、素敵な人だと思う。

    She's interesting, or maybe I should say unique—either way, I think she's a wonderful person.

  2. その話を聞いて、驚いたというかあきれたというか、言葉が出なかった。

    When I heard that, I was surprised, or maybe appalled; either way, I was lost for words.

  3. 彼の部屋は、シンプルというか何もないというか、とにかく物が少ない。

    His room is minimalist, or maybe just empty; anyway, there's hardly anything in it.