VたりVたりする — Lists representative or selected actions | JLPT N5 grammar

Meaning

Lists representative or selected actions.

13 sentences

休みやすみの日ひは本ほんを読んよんだり映画えいがを見みたりします
On days off, I do things like read books and watch films.
日曜日にちようびは掃除そうじしたり料理りょうりしたりしました
On Sunday, I did things like cleaning and cooking.
休みやすみの日ひは、友達ともだちと料理りょうりを作っつくったり映画えいがを見みたりします
On days off I do things like cook and watch films with friends.
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.

5 more examples

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.

たり … たりする lists representative actions in no fixed order, and the final する carries tense and politeness: 読んだり書いたりしました. One example is also possible: 散歩したりします.

た inside たり is not the past of the sentence: 読んだりします can describe usual activities. Do not end an ordinary sentence with a lone 書いたり without する.

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

Sentence 1: 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 I have been to Japan.On the trip I want to do things like visiting temples and buying souvenirs.I like cats.
Sentence 2: 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.I have climbed a high mountain before.My younger brother dislikes vegetables.
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 I like dogs, but I am a little uncomfortable around cats.Yesterday it was alternately hot and cold.I have never eaten sushi.

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