Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 6: 9/17

～なり～なり

Or, Either or

Structure

Verb［る］(A) + なり + Verb［る］(B) + なり + する
Noun (A) + （Particle(1)）+ なり + Noun (B) + （Particle(1)）+ なり
Noun (A) + なり + Noun (B) + なり + （Particle(1)）
Verb［る］+ なり + WH-Word + （Particle）+ なり + する
Noun + （Particle(1)）+ なり + WH-Word + （Particle(1)）+ なり

(1) Particles を and が cannot be used in this case

Details

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About ～なり～なり

When the classical adverbial particle なり is used in lists, it expresses that each item within that list is a possibility, but that one particular thing will be or needs to be chosen. This use of なり will indicate that either (A) or (B) is fine, but anything else that falls within that same category is probably fine too. Due to this, it is non-exhaustive.
なり is a fairly polite construction and will appear after either verbs in their dictionary forms, or nouns that may or may not be followed by another particle. This is in cases where that particle is giving important information involved in the 'choice'. An example of this would be に for marking a location.
  • もうちょっと待機(たいき)しないといけなさそうだから、タバコを吸(す)うなり弁当(べんとう)食(た)べるなりして待(ま)ってな。準備(じゅんび)ができたら呼(よ)ぶからゆっくりしてな。
    It seems like we have to wait a little longer, so why don't you go smoke some cigarettes or eat your lunch and wait. Once everything is ready, I'll let you know so take your time.
  • どうぞ受(う)け取(と)ってください。いらないなら売(う)るなり捨(す)てるなりしてもらっても結構(けっこう)ですので。
    Please take this. If you don't want it you can sell it or throw it away.
  • 遅(おく)れるなら電話(でんわ)なりメールなりするのが社会人(しゃかいじん)としての常識(じょうしき)じゃないのか？！
    Isn't it common sense as a member of society to call or text if you are going to be late?!
  • なんでお前(まえ)はいつもそう一人(ひとり)でなんでも解決(かいけつ)しようとするんだ？俺(おれ)になり高橋(たかはし)になり相談(そうだん)してくれればいいのに！
    Why do you always try to solve everything on your own? You should come talk to me or Takahashi!
As with all adverbial particles, なり cannot follow either が or を.
Caution
This emphasis on (A) なり (B) なり presenting lists from which something will be chosen is what differentiates it from similar structures such as など and や. Due to this, なり will not be used to mean 'such as', but only for 'either, or' statements.

Examples

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    小説(しょうせつ)、勇者(ゆうしゃ)が魔王(まおう)に：「仲間(なかま)にだけは手(て)を出(だ)さないでください。俺(おれ)を煮(に)るなり焼(や)くなり好(す)きにしていい！」

    A novel, Hero to Demon King: 'Please don't lay a hand on my friends! Instead, you can do whatever you like to me!' (Literally - Boil me or grill me)

    怒(おこ)った親(おや)が子供(こども)に：「部屋(へや)を漫画(まんが)本(ぼん)だらけにしないで！読(よ)まないものは売(う)るなり捨(す)てるなりして片(かた)づけなさい！」

    Angry parent to a child: 'Don't scatter the manga all over the room! Either sell or throw away the things you don't read!

    父親(ちちおや)は娘(むすめ)に：「孤独(こどく)を感(かん)じていたのなら、俺(おれ)になり母(かあ)さんになり電話(でんわ)くれればよかったのに。」

    Father to daughter: 'If you were feeling lonely, you should have called me or mom…'

    友達(ともだち)にアドバイスする：「黙(だま)ってばかりいないでよ。喧嘩(けんか)するなり文句(もんく)を言(い)うなりしてみたら？」

    Giving advice to a friend: 'Don't be quiet all the time! Why don't you try to argue or complain?'

    怪我(けが)をしている友達(ともだち)にアドバイスする：「ケガをしてるよ！絆創膏(ばんそうこう)を貼(は)るなり包帯(ほうたい)を巻(ま)くなりした方(ほう)がいいんじゃないかな！」

    Giving advice to and injured friend: 'You are injured! I think you'd better put a band-aid on or bandage it.'

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