やれ〜やれ
🃏 Flashcard
やれ〜やれ
yare~yare
Tap to reveal usage
give 2 representative examples (negative)
N1
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
yare~yare
Post ID
51430
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
give 2 representative examples (negative)
📖 How to use it
Lists two representative examples of a category, often complaints or excuses, meaning 'whether it's A or B (both bad/troublesome)'.
Attaches to
Place やれ before each of two items, which can be a verb (often in dictionary or past form), an adjective, or a noun/な-adjective stem. The structure is: やれ + [item A] + やれ + [item B] + (と) + concluding phrase.
This pattern pairs two examples to say that both are troublesome or undesirable, often when complaining about a situation with multiple bad aspects. The second やれ is usually followed by a phrase like と大変だ or と困る, but it can also be used as a standalone exclamation.
It is a fairly literary or formal pattern, more common in writing or set phrases than in casual conversation. In speech, you might hear it in older or dramatic styles, but everyday conversation usually uses 〜ても〜ても or 〜にしても〜にしても instead.
やれ暑いやれ寒いと、文句が多いお客さんだ。
Yare atsui yare samui to, monku ga ooi okyaku-san da.
Whether it's hot or cold, that customer complains a lot.
やれ金がないやれ時間がないと、言い訳ばかりしている。
Yare kane ga nai yare jikan ga nai to, iiwake bakari shite iru.
He's always making excuses, saying he has no money and no time.
やれ忙しいやれ疲れたと、家事を全然手伝ってくれない。
Yare isogashii yare tsukareta to, kaji o zenzen tetsudatte kurenai.
He says he's busy and tired, and never helps with housework.
Not 〜にしても〜にしても
やれ〜やれ emphasizes that both listed things are undesirable or complaints, often in a list of excuses. 〜にしても〜にしても is neutral, simply giving two examples, and can be used with positive or negative items.
Register
Literary or formal; in everyday speech it sounds bookish or dramatic.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
やれ〜やれ
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat やれ〜やれ three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using やれ〜やれ. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns
← Previous
やしない
should do, but don't; there's no way ~
Next →
ようが / ようと
even if; no matter how/what ~
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern やれ〜やれ mean?
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Give 2 representative examples (negative)
What JLPT level is やれ〜やれ?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use やれ〜やれ in a sentence?
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Attach やれ〜やれ (yare~yare) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is やれ〜やれ formal or casual Japanese?
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やれ〜やれ is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember やれ〜やれ long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.