Textbooks teach など for “and so on.” In speech, とか does that job: 映画とか見る (“watch movies and stuff”). People also put とか after a single item to sound vague or less pushy: 明日とか空いてる？ (“are you free, say, tomorrow?”).
Lists examples loosely, or makes a statement vaguer so it sounds less direct.
One performer says something easier to understand would be better, then writes something down to show the other.
How about something like this?
Textbookこれなどはいかがですか。Polite "これなどはいかがですか" becomes "これとかどう?": "など" → softening "とか", "いかがですか" → casual "どう?".
At a seafood restaurant, a staff member announces that a tuna-carving show is about to begin.
Culture note Tuna-carving shows, where a whole tuna is cut up in front of diners, are a popular attraction at Japanese seafood restaurants.
Oh, you do carving shows and stuff too, huh?
Textbook解体ショーなどもやっているんですね。"など" → loose "とか"; "やっているのね" → "やってるのね" → "やってんのね" (る before の becomes ん).
A student hears that someone has been watching them at badminton club practice, and starts guessing what exactly caught that person's eye.
Like, this?
Textbookこれなどですか。「とか」 offers a loose example ('like this?'), softer than textbook 「など」; the question uses rising intonation instead of 「ですか」.
Two people argue about how to settle a dispute, and one keeps refusing a sumo match, insisting it wouldn't be fair.
You're, like, a lightweight kind of guy.
Textbookライト級などの方なんですよ。ライト級とか: とか replaces など, vaguely labeling the category ('lightweight or so'); casual なんだよ comes from なんですよ.
Someone with a stomachache can't explain the cause, so the other person starts guessing what happened.
There are bugs and stuff around.
Textbook虫などがいますから。虫とか: とか replaces など, giving 'bugs' as a loose example; the sentence ends at から as a casual reason.
From other routines in the library. Automatic transcripts, not yet checked line by line.
〜とか means “…and stuff” / “like…”. Textbooks teach など for “and so on.” In speech, とか does that job: 映画とか見る (“watch movies and stuff”). People also put とか after a single item to sound vague or less pushy: 明日とか空いてる？ (“are you free, say, tomorrow?”).
With friends: OK. With coworkers: OK. With a boss or teacher: careful. Lists examples loosely, or makes a statement vaguer so it sounds less direct.
In 2,334 live comedy routines, 〜とか appears in 3,242 lines from 235 comedians.