〜たり〜たりする — Do this and that, among others | JLPT N4 grammar

Meaning

Used to give an incomplete list of actions or states. The list is only representative, not exhaustive.

Formation

た form + り on each action, with する at the end: 読んだり聞いたりします
Only the final する carries tense and politeness

When to use it

Core use: Do this and that, among others

Examples

20 sentences

日曜日にちようびは洗濯せんたくしたり掃除そうじしたりします
On Sundays I do things like laundry and cleaning.
休みやすみの日ひは本ほんを読んよんだり音楽おんがくを聞いきいたりします
On my days off I do things like read books and listen to music.
昨日きのうは雨あめが降っふったりやんやんだりしていました
Yesterday it kept raining on and off.
夏休みなつやすみには泳いおよいだり花火はなびを見みたりしたいです
During summer vacation I want to do things like swim and watch fireworks.
電車でんしゃの中なかでは単語たんごを覚えおぼえたりメモを読み返しよみかえしたりしています
On the train I do things like memorize words and reread my notes.
新しいあたらしい町まちを歩くあるくと写真しゃしんを撮っとったり面白いおもしろい店みせに入っはいったりしてあっという間あっというまに時間じかんが過ぎすぎます
When you walk around a new town, you do things like take pictures and go into interesting shops, and time flies.
祭りまつりでは屋台やたいの料理りょうりを食べたべたり踊りおどりを見みたりしました
At the festival, we did things like eat food from stalls and watch dancing.
猫ねこは窓まどの外そとを見みたり机つくえの上うえで寝ねたりしています
The cat does things like look out the window and sleep on the desk.

12 more examples

春はるは急きゅうに暖かくあたたかくなったり寒くさむくなったりします
In spring, it suddenly gets warm and then cold again.
キャンプでは火ひを起こしおこしたり星ほしを見みたりしました
At camp, we did things like make a fire and watch the stars.
雨あめの日ひは絵えを描いかいたり音楽おんがくを聞いきいたりします
On rainy days I do things like drawing and listening to music.
海うみで泳いおよいだり砂すなで遊んあそんだりしました
At the beach we swam, played in the sand and did other things.
週末しゅうまつは服ふくを洗っあらったり部屋へやを片付けかたづけたりします
At weekends I do chores like washing clothes and tidying my room.
授業じゅぎょうで作文さくぶんを書いかいたり友達ともだちと話しはなしたりします
In class we do things like writing compositions and talking with friends.
祖母そぼの家いえで料理りょうりを手伝ってつだったり写真しゃしんを見みたりしました
At my grandmother's house I helped with cooking, looked at photos and did other things.
旅行りょこうでお寺おてらを見みたりお土産おみやげを買っかったりしたいです
On the trip I want to do things like visiting temples and buying souvenirs.
仕事しごとで電話でんわをかけたりメールを送っおくったりします
At work I make calls, send emails and do other tasks.
休みやすみに山やまに登っのぼったり川かわで泳いおよいだりしました
During the holidays I did things like climbing mountains and swimming in a river.
子どもこどもは笑っわらったり泣いないたりしています
The child is alternately laughing and crying.
昨日きのうは暑かっあつかったり寒かっさむかったりしました
Yesterday it was alternately hot and cold.

Important notes

たり lists representative actions rather than every action in order.

Common mistakes

Use the past-form base and end the list with する: 読んだり書いたりする.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: 春はるは急きゅうに暖かくあたたかくなったり寒くさむくなったりします In spring, it suddenly gets warm and then cold again.I will try writing this kanji.I have been to Japan.
Sentence 2: 祖母そぼの家いえで料理りょうりを手伝ってつだったり写真しゃしんを見みたりしました At my grandmother's house I helped with cooking, looked at photos and did other things.I have seen Mount Fuji.I will try to look for the house key and see how it goes.
Sentence 3: 昨日きのうは暑かっあつかったり寒かっさむかったりしました Yesterday it was alternately hot and cold.I will try eating natto once.I have eaten natto.

Similar grammar

Hear it in podcasts

The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.

シャンプー中のピンポンN4 · 1 min 20 s