〜とか: meaning and usage

How to form it

• plain form+とか
• plain form+とかで+clause

How it is used

At the end of a sentence, 「とか」 passes on hearsay: 'I hear', 'apparently', with a vague, not-quite-sure tone. It is conversational and looser than 「〜そうだ」; 「〜とかで」 gives a reason one has heard.

Examples

1. 日本の北の方ではりすがいるとか。

   I heard there are squirrels in the northern part of Japan.

2. 駅前に新しいパン屋ができたとか。

   I hear a new bakery has opened in front of the station.

3. 部長は風邪だとかで、今日は休みです。

   The department head is off today; apparently it's a cold.