How Japanese Uses Lists, Parallelism, and Nominal Endings

Core examples: 及び, 並びに, また, なお, 〜し、〜し, 安全性の確保, 利用者への周知, 必要な措置, 体言止め.

Formal Japanese often hides the main action in a list

Government notices, company reports, legal summaries, and manuals often look like long strings of nouns:

安全性の確保、利用者への周知、必要な措置の実施

The reader may understand each word and still lose the structure. Which items are parallel? What governs the list? Is it a requirement, goal, or description?

The key principle:

Formal Japanese often builds authority through parallel nouns and nominal endings.

To read it, you must turn the sentence into an outline.

Parallel nouns

Formal prose often lists action nouns:

安全性の確保 securing safety

利用者への周知 informing users

必要な措置の実施 implementing necessary measures

These are noun phrases, but they imply actions. The governing verb may appear later or be omitted in a heading.

及び and 並びに

Both can mean “and,” but formal usage often distinguishes list levels.

A及びB A and B

A及びB並びにC及びD

In legal/administrative style, 及び may connect smaller units, while 並びに can connect larger groups. Real usage can be complex, but the learner’s first task is to recognize formal coordination.

Do not translate every connector as a casual “and.” Ask what items are grouped together.

また and なお

また

adds another item or point.

なお

adds a supplementary note, exception, or side comment.

In formal documents, なお often marks information that changes how the reader should act.

なお、提出後の変更はできません。 Note that changes cannot be made after submission.

Learner action: never skip なお in instructions.

〜し、〜し parallelism

In spoken and written Japanese, し can list reasons or features:

安いし、便利だし、使いやすい。 It is cheap, convenient, and easy to use.

In formal prose, parallel structures may use stems, nouns, or clauses instead. Parallelism gives completeness and balance.

Nominal endings and 体言止め

体言止め means ending a sentence or phrase with a noun. It is common in headlines, slogans, notices, and formal labels.

安全第一 Safety first

利用者への周知徹底 thorough notification to users

Nominal endings can sound compact, official, punchy, or headline-like.

Learners should not expect every formal Japanese line to end with a finite verb.

Necessary measures: 措置

必要な措置

means necessary measures. It appears constantly in official prose.

Common pattern:

必要な措置を講じる take necessary measures

If a sentence lists measures, find whether the text says they will be implemented, requested, required, or considered.

Example walkthroughs

及び

Formal “and.”

Learner action: identify coordinated items.

並びに

Formal connector, often for larger coordination.

Learner action: look for nested list structure.

また

Adds another point.

Learner action: continue the list or argument.

なお

Supplementary note.

Learner action: check for exceptions or important conditions.

〜し、〜し

Parallel reasons/features.

Learner action: read as cumulative support.

安全性の確保

Noun phrase meaning securing safety.

Learner action: convert nominal phrase to action in plain Japanese.

利用者への周知

Informing users.

Learner action: への shows direction toward audience.

必要な措置

Necessary measures.

Learner action: ask what action is required or promised.

体言止め

Nominal ending.

Learner action: common in headlines, slogans, headings.

List parse workflow

1. Identify all coordinated items.
2. Mark connectors: 及び, 並びに, また, なお.
3. Find the governing noun or verb.
4. Decide whether items are actions, requirements, examples, or goals.
5. Rewrite as bullets.
6. Restore plain verbs if needed.

及び and 並びに are not just fancy “and”

Formal prose often uses 及び and 並びに to coordinate items. In legal and administrative contexts, they may also mark hierarchy.

A simplified pattern:

A及びB A and B

For multiple levels, 並びに may separate larger groups while 及び connects smaller items. Not every public document uses them with perfect legal precision, but the hierarchy matters in serious reading.

Learner habit: when you see 及び/並びに, turn the sentence into nested bullets before translating.

なお and また do different jobs

また adds another item.

なお adds a supplementary note, caveat, or side instruction.

Example:

申請書を提出してください。また、本人確認書類も必要です。なお、郵送での提出はできません。 Submit the application form. Also, identity verification documents are required. Note that submission by mail is not possible.

また continues the list. なお controls scope with an extra condition.

体言止め: noun endings create formal compression

Formal Japanese often ends phrases with nouns instead of full predicates:

安全性の確保 ensuring safety

利用者への周知 informing users

必要な措置の実施 implementation of necessary measures

These are not complete conversational sentences. They are document-style action items. In reports and notices, noun endings create neutrality and listability.

List parse, upgraded

When a sentence feels like a chain of nouns:

1. Find the final governing noun or verb.
2. Split coordinated items at 及び, 並びに, また, commas, and list markers.
3. Decide whether each item is a requirement, example, condition, or purpose.
4. Expand nominal endings into verbs in plain Japanese.
5. Rebuild as an outline.

This turns bureaucratic prose into manageable structure.

Suggested functions:

1. Connector highlighter: 及び, 並びに, また, なお.
2. Nested bullet generator.
3. Nominal-to-verb paraphrase: 確保 → 確保する.
4. Governing phrase detector.
5. Requirement vs example labels.

Final rule

Formal Japanese loves lists because lists sound complete, neutral, and administrative.

Do not read dense noun strings left to right in panic. Break them into coordinated items, find the governing phrase, and rewrite them as an outline.