のやら
“I’m not sure whether … / It’s unclear if …” → Used to express uncertainty or lack of clear judgment about a single situation, often implying that the speaker cannot decide or determine the truth.
N1
Meaning
“I’m not sure whether … / It’s unclear if …” → Used to express uncertainty or lack of clear judgment about a single situation, often implying that the speaker cannot decide or determine the truth.
Formation
Clause (plain form) + のやら
Noun + な + のやら
Explanation
のやら is used when the speaker:
does not have enough information
feels unsure or confused
avoids making a firm judgment
Unlike のやら〜のやら, which lists two alternatives,
のやら (single) focuses on one unclear point, leaving the uncertainty open-ended.
It is commonly used in:
written descriptions
reflective narration
polite or indirect explanations
JLPT N1 reading passages
💡 Core nuance:
“It’s hard to tell whether this is the case.”