JLPT N1 Grammar

〜ずら (zura)

〜ずら (zura)
“...and others; ...and the like; ...and such”

This expression is a classical pluralizing suffix used to indicate a group of people or things. In modern Japanese, it has been almost entirely replaced by 〜たち (for people) or 〜など (for things).

  • Formality: Archaic and highly literary. It is not used in modern spoken Japanese.
  • Context: You will encounter this primarily in historical documents, classical literature (bungo), or highly stylized modern media (like samurai films or fantasy novels) to evoke a sense of "old-world" authority or antiquity.
  • Nuance: It carries a sense of categorization or grouping. Unlike the modern ~tachi, which is neutral, ~zura often sounds more collective and impersonal. In a professional JLPT N1 context, understanding this helps in interpreting historical legal texts or classical excerpts often found in the reading comprehension section.

Format

  • Noun + ずら
    武士ずらが、城の前に集まっている。The samurai (and their ilk) are gathering in front of the castle.
    子供ずらの遊ぶ声が聞こえる。The voices of children (and others like them) playing can be heard.
    鳥ずらが空を舞っている。Birds (and such) are dancing in the sky.

Example sentences

  • 、。
    In the ancient documents, the petitions of the villagers and others are recorded.
  • 。
    Worshiping the countless gods and their like.
  • 、。
    The warriors and their groups are all preparing for battle.
  • 。
    Worrying about the future of young people and their generation.
  • 、。
    Performing a dance in the presence of the lords and their company.
  • 。
    Even insects and such cherish their lives.
  • 。
    Women and their companions are chatting by the riverside.
  • 。
    Is there no one who hunts beasts and the like?
  • 。
    The stars and such decorate the night sky.
  • 。
    Combining the strength of our group and the like.

Similar Grammar

〜たち (tachi)

“And others; plural marker"
私たちは明日、会議に参加します。 We (and others) will attend the meeting tomorrow.

Difference:

  • The standard modern pluralizer.
  • It is used for people and sometimes animals, but rarely for inanimate objects in formal Japanese.

〜など (nado)

“Etc.; and so on; and the like"
ペンやノートなどの文房具を買った。 I bought stationery such as pens and notebooks.

Difference:

  • Neutral and extremely common.
  • It focuses on giving examples from a category.

〜ら (ra)

“Plural suffix (neutral/slightly informal)"
彼らはどこへ行ったのですか。 Where did they go?

Difference:

  • More common than ~zura in modern Japanese, used frequently with pronouns (私ら, 彼ら).
  • It can sometimes sound a bit rough or derogatory depending on the context.

〜ども (domo)

“Plural suffix (humble or derogatory)”
私共（わたくしども）が対応いたします。 We (humble) will handle it.
野郎共（やろうども）め！ You rascals!

Difference:

  • In business, it’s used for humble self-reference.
  • In casual/aggressive speech, it’s used to look down on others.

〜がてら (gatera)

“While; at the same time”
散歩がてら、本屋に寄った。 While out for a walk, I stopped by the bookstore.

Difference:

  • Often confused by sound, but entirely different in meaning. ~gatera indicates doing two actions simultaneously.

JLPT Practice Questions

Now let’s test your understanding.

Q1. のによれば、の（　　　）はなにという。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q2. のによれば、なを（　　　）、のにできなければ意味がない。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q3. のを（　　　）のは、のを。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q4. の（　　　）にをところ、このにははないという。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q5. のにおいて、（　　　）をは、にとってものであった。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q6. の（　　　）が、を。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q7. （　　　）、にことがとは。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q8. のには、（　　　）のが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q9. （　　　）、のを。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q10. （　　　）がこのは、として。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q11. （　　　）のにより、こののが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q12. にには、（　　　）のが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q13. （　　　）を、がした。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q14. （　　　）、のをことは。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q15. （　　　）のがを、は「」と。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Continue Your Journey to Native-Level Fluency

Great work finishing this session! Achieving N1-level precision is about layering these subtle distinctions until they become second nature in your professional life.

To maintain your momentum and eliminate any remaining blind spots, head back to our JLPT N1 Grammar List. Use it to systematically check off each point and refine your ability to navigate complex Japanese environments with the confidence of a native speaker.

JLPT N1 Grammar List

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