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A2 particle #500 am häufigsten 7 Min. Lesezeit

たり

tari Top 500

At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn how to connect ideas. While 'tari' is usually taught a bit later, you might hear it when people talk about their hobbies. Think of it as a way to say 'I do this and that.' You don't need to worry about all the complex rules yet, but try to recognize the 'tari... tari... suru' pattern. It's like saying 'A and B' but for actions. For example, 'I watch TV and read books.' In Japanese, we use 'tari' to show these are just examples of what we do. It helps you avoid making very short, choppy sentences like 'I watch TV. I read books.' Instead, you can join them together to sound more like a real conversation. Just remember that the words before 'tari' look like the past tense, but they don't mean the past here!

At the A2 level, 'tari' becomes a key part of your grammar toolkit. This is when you learn the 'Ta-form' of verbs, which is necessary to build 'tari' sentences. You use 'tari' to describe your weekend, your daily routine, or your habits. The most important thing to remember is the structure: [Verb Ta-form] + ri, [Verb Ta-form] + ri, and then a form of 'suru.' This 'suru' at the end is what tells us if you are talking about the past, the present, or what you want to do. For example, 'kattari shimashita' means 'I did things like shopping.' You also learn that you can use it with adjectives, like 'atsukattari samukattari' (sometimes hot, sometimes cold). This level is all about practicing the conjugation so it becomes second nature.

By B1, you should be comfortable using 'tari' for verbs and adjectives. You start to use it more naturally in longer stories. You might use a single 'tari' to imply 'and other things like that' without needing to list a second item. For example, 'Benkyou shitari shite imasu' (I'm doing things like studying). You also start to see 'tari' used in more formal contexts, like business emails or news reports, to list various possibilities or occurrences. You'll notice that 'tari' can be followed by other verbs besides 'suru' in specific idiomatic expressions, though 'suru' remains the standard. Your focus at this level is ensuring that your 'tari' lists feel balanced and that you are using the correct 'da/ta' sounds for verbs like 'yondari' vs 'mitari'.

At the B2 level, you use 'tari' to add nuance and sophistication to your speech. You understand that 'tari' is not just for listing actions, but for creating a specific 'mood' or 'atmosphere' in your descriptions. You might use it to describe fluctuating emotions or complex situations where many things are happening at once. You also become proficient in using 'tari' with nouns and na-adjectives using 'dattari.' For example, 'Ame dattari hare dattari no henka ga hageshii' (The change between rain and sunny weather is intense). You understand the subtle difference between using 'tari' and other listing particles like 'shi' or 'nado,' and you choose 'tari' specifically when you want to emphasize the representative nature of the actions you are describing.

At the C1 level, 'tari' is used with complete precision. You can use it in highly formal or academic writing to list various factors or phenomena. You are aware of classical or literary variations of 'tari' and how it evolved from the classical auxiliary verb. You might use 'tari' in complex grammatical structures, such as '...tari...tari de,' to explain a cause-and-effect relationship where multiple factors are involved. Your usage is indistinguishable from a native speaker, using 'tari' to provide just enough information to be clear without being redundant. You also recognize 'tari' in historical texts and understand its role in the development of the Japanese language's aspectual system.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of 'tari.' You can use it to achieve specific rhetorical effects in literature or high-level oratory. You understand the deep connection between 'tari' and the Japanese concept of 'ma' (space/timing), using the particle to pace your descriptions perfectly. You can analyze the use of 'tari' in classical Japanese literature (where it functioned differently as a perfective marker) and see how those echoes still exist in modern idiomatic expressions. You use 'tari' effortlessly in any register, from the most casual slang to the most elevated humble or honorific speech, always selecting the perfect form of 'suru' (or its honorific equivalents like 'nasai-masu') to match the context.

Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps

たり in 30 Sekunden

Used to list representative actions or states without being exhaustive, implying 'and so on' or 'among other things.'
Requires the 'Ta-form' (past tense) of verbs, adjectives, or nouns followed by 'ri' and ends with 'suru.'
Can describe alternating states (like 'sometimes hot, sometimes cold') or a variety of activities in a given time.
Essential for making Japanese sound natural and conversational by avoiding overly rigid or complete lists of actions.

The particle たり (tari) is a fundamental grammatical tool in Japanese used to list representative actions or states. Unlike the English word 'and,' which often implies a complete list of everything that happened, tari suggests that the items mentioned are just a few examples among many possibilities. It creates a sense of 'doing things like X and Y, among others.' This is essential in Japanese communication because it avoids being overly exhaustive or rigid, fitting the cultural preference for nuance and indirectness.

The Non-Exhaustive List: When you use ~tari ~tari suru, you are telling the listener, 'Here are a couple of things I did, but I did other things too that I am not mentioning right now.'

週末は買い物をしたり、映画を見たりしました。
(Shuumatsu wa kaimono o shitari, eiga o mitari shimashita.)
On the weekend, I did things like shopping and watching movies.

In the example above, the speaker isn't saying they *only* shopped and watched movies. They likely ate, slept, and walked the dog as well, but shopping and movies were the highlights. This particle is also used to describe alternating states, such as 'sometimes it's hot, sometimes it's cold,' or 'people coming and going.' It provides a dynamic feel to the sentence, capturing the flow of activity or the variability of a situation.

Emotional Nuance: Using tari can also soften the tone of a sentence. Instead of a clinical list of facts, it sounds more conversational and descriptive, as if the speaker is painting a picture of their day rather than reading a logbook.

泣いたり笑ったりの忙しい一日でした。
(Naitari warattari no isogashii ichinichi deshita.)
It was a busy day, with crying and laughing (and so on).

Whether you are a student describing your study habits or a traveler explaining your itinerary, tari is your go-to particle for providing examples without being tied down to a complete list. It is one of the first 'complex' structures learners encounter that truly makes their Japanese sound more natural and fluid.

Using たり (tari) requires a specific conjugation pattern based on the 'Ta-form' (past tense form) of verbs, adjectives, or nouns. The basic structure is [Ta-form] + り. This pattern is repeated for each item in the list, followed by a form of する (suru) to complete the sentence.

Verb Conjugation: For verbs, take the past tense form and add ri. For example, taberu (eat) becomes tabeta, then tabetari. Yomu (read) becomes yonda, then yondari. Note that if the Ta-form ends in da, the particle becomes dari.

本を読んだり、音楽を聴いたりします。
(Hon o yondari, ongaku o kiitari shimasu.)
I do things like reading books and listening to music.

Adjective and Noun Conjugation: I-adjectives: Change the final i to kattari (e.g., samui → samukattari). Na-adjectives and Nouns: Add dattari (e.g., ame → amedattari, kirei → kireidattari).

最近の天気は、暑かったり寒かったりです。
(Saikin no tenki wa, atsukattari samukattari desu.)
Lately, the weather has been sometimes hot and sometimes cold.

While it is most common to list two items, you can list three or even just one. When only one tari is used, it strongly implies that other similar actions occurred, even if they aren't worth mentioning. The final suru can be conjugated into any tense or politeness level: shimasu (polite present), shimashita (polite past), shitai (want to do), or shinaide kudasai (please don't do).

You will hear たり (tari) everywhere in Japan, from casual conversations between friends to formal business reports. It is a versatile 'multi-tool' of the Japanese language. In daily life, it's the standard way to answer the question 'What did you do today?' or 'What are your plans?' without sounding like you're reading a grocery list.

Casual Conversations: Friends often use it to describe their hobbies or general habits. 'I usually just hang out at home, watch YouTube, sleep, and stuff' would be perfectly expressed with tari.

休みの日、何してるの？
うーん、寝たり、ゲームしたりかな。
(Yasumi no hi, nani shiteru no? Uun, netari, geemu shitari kana.)
What do you do on your days off? Hmm, things like sleeping and playing games, I guess.

In a professional setting, tari is used to outline tasks or possibilities. A manager might say, 'We need to check the data, talk to the client, and so on.' Using tari here shows that the manager is open to other necessary steps that might arise, rather than providing a rigid, exhaustive checklist.

You'll also encounter tari in weather reports ('Sometimes rain, sometimes cloudy'), news broadcasts ('People were seen running and shouting'), and song lyrics. It is particularly common in songs to describe a whirlwind of emotions or a series of nostalgic memories. Its ability to group disparate actions into a single 'vibe' makes it incredibly useful for storytelling and descriptive prose.

While たり (tari) is a common particle, it has a few 'trap' rules that often trip up English speakers. The most frequent error is forgetting the final する (suru). Because English lists often end with the last item ('I shop and eat'), learners forget that Japanese requires a functional verb to carry the tense and politeness of the entire phrase.

Mistake 1: Missing the final 'Suru': Incorrect: 本を読んだり、お茶を飲んだり。 (Hon o yondari, ocha o nondari.)
Correct: 本を読んだり、お茶を飲んだりします。 (Hon o yondari, ocha o nondari shimasu.)

Another common mistake is using the wrong verb stem. Learners sometimes try to attach tari to the dictionary form (e.g., taberu-tari) or the Masu-stem (e.g., tabe-tari). It must be the Ta-form. If you haven't mastered the past-tense conjugations (the 'Te-form' rules apply here too), tari will be difficult to use correctly.

Incorrect: 歌うたり、踊るたりします。 (Utau-tari, odoru-tari shimasu.)
Correct: 歌ったり、踊ったりします。
(Utattari, odottari shimasu.)

Mistake 2: Confusing 'Tari' with 'Te': The Te-form is for actions that happen in a specific sequence (First A, then B). The Tari-form is for actions that happen in no particular order or are just examples. Using tari for a recipe (where order matters) would be confusing.

Finally, remember the da/ta distinction. If a verb's past tense is da (like nonda), the particle must be dari. Mixing these up won't always stop you from being understood, but it will sound 'off' to native speakers.

Japanese has several ways to list things, and choosing the right one depends on whether you are listing nouns, verbs, or adjectives, and whether the list is exhaustive. たり (tari) is unique because it primarily handles actions (verbs), but let's look at how it compares to others.

~て (~te form): Used for sequential actions. 'I woke up, ate breakfast, and went to school.' Use te when the order is important. Use tari when the order doesn't matter or you're just giving examples.

~や (~ya) and ~など (~nado): These are used for nouns. Ya is like the 'tari' for nouns—it implies a non-exhaustive list. Nado means 'and so on.' You can't use ya with verbs, so tari is the verb equivalent.

Noun: りんごやバナナなどを買いました。
Verb: 買ったり食べたりしました。

~し (~shi): Used to list reasons or multiple qualities. 'The food is cheap, and it's delicious (so I like it).' While shi lists facts to support a conclusion, tari lists activities to describe a situation.

In summary, use tari when you want to talk about actions or states as examples. If you are just listing objects, stick to ya. If you are giving a step-by-step instruction, use te. Understanding these distinctions is key to moving from basic Japanese to a more intermediate, natural-sounding level.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

"調査の結果、数値が上昇したり下降したりしております。"

Neutral

"週末は映画を見たり、買い物をしたりします。"

Informell

"昨日？寝たり、ゲームしたりしてた。"

Child friendly

"公園で遊んだり、お菓子を食べたりしようね！"

Umgangssprache

"あいつ、急に怒ったりしてマジ意味不。"

Wusstest du?

In Classical Japanese, 'tari' was a very common way to end sentences, similar to how 'desu' or 'da' is used today. Over centuries, its function shifted from a tense marker to a listing particle.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /tɑːri/

US /tɑri/

Japanese is a pitch-accent language. In 'tari', the pitch is generally flat or slightly drops, depending on the preceding verb's accent.

Reimt sich auf

ari nari yari kari mari bari shari hikari

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing 'ri' like the English 'ri' in 'river' (with a rounded 'r').
Stressing the 'ta' too heavily.
Making the 'i' sound too long.
Forgetting the flap 'r' sound.
Separating 'ta' and 'ri' with a pause.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Easy to recognize once you know the Ta-form, but can be confused with other 'ri' endings.

Schreiben 3/5

Requires correct conjugation of the Ta-form, which has many rules.

Sprechen 3/5

Common to forget the final 'suru' in the heat of conversation.

Hören 2/5

The 'tari' sound is very distinctive and easy to pick out.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

する (suru) だ (da) た (ta - past tense) て (te - connector) です (desu)

Als Nächstes lernen

とか (toka) し (shi - reasons) ながら (nagara - while) 間に (aida ni - during) うちに (uchi ni - while/before)

Fortgeschritten

なり...なり (nari...nari) だの...だの (dano...dano) やら...やら (yara...yara) つ...つ (tsu...tsu - literary alternation)

Wichtige Grammatik

Verb Ta-form

行く -> 行った -> 行ったり

I-Adjective Ta-form

寒い -> 寒かった -> 寒かったり

Na-Adjective/Noun + Datta

暇 -> 暇だった -> 暇だったり

Ending with Suru

...たりします / ...たりしました

Negative Tari

食べなかったりします (Sometimes I don't eat)

Beispiele nach Niveau

テレビを見たり、本を読んだりします。

I do things like watch TV and read books.

Uses two verbs with 'tari' followed by 'shimasu'.

テニスをしたり、サッカーをしたりしました。

I played things like tennis and soccer.

Past tense is shown by 'shimashita' at the end.

お茶を飲んだりします。

I do things like drink tea.

Using only one 'tari' implies there are other actions too.

歌ったり、踊ったりするのが好きです。

I like doing things like singing and dancing.

The 'tari' phrase is turned into a noun with 'no' to use with 'suki'.

パンを食べたり、ミルクを飲んだりしました。

I ate bread and drank milk (among other things).

Simple list of morning actions.

写真を撮ったりしました。

I took photos (and did other things).

Focuses on one representative action.

日本語を勉強したり、音楽を聴いたりします。

I study Japanese and listen to music.

Common daily activities.

泳いだり、走ったりしました。

I swam and ran.

Note the 'da' in 'oyoidari' because 'oyogu' past is 'oyoida'.

週末は掃除をしたり、洗濯をしたりしました。

On the weekend, I did things like cleaning and laundry.

Typical weekend chores using 'tari'.

この店は、安かったり、高かったりします。

In this shop, things are sometimes cheap and sometimes expensive.

Using 'tari' with i-adjectives.

雨が降ったり、やんだりしています。

It's been raining on and off.

Describes an alternating state.

休みの日は、友達に会ったり、買い物をしたりしたいです。

On my day off, I want to do things like meet friends and go shopping.

Ends with 'shitai' to express desire.

映画を見たり、ゲームをしたりするのは楽しいです。

Doing things like watching movies and playing games is fun.

The whole 'tari' sequence is the subject of the sentence.

料理を作ったり、皿を洗ったりします。

I cook and wash dishes (and so on).

Lists related household tasks.

公園で散歩したり、ベンチで休んだりしました。

I walked in the park and rested on a bench.

Describes a relaxing afternoon.

冬は雪が降ったり、風が強かったりします。

In winter, it snows and the wind is strong (among other things).

Mixes a verb (furu) and an adjective (tsuyoi).

仕事が忙しかったり、暇だったりします。

Work is sometimes busy and sometimes slow.

Combines an i-adjective and a na-adjective.

最近、夜中に目が覚めたりすることがあります。

Lately, there are times when I wake up in the middle of the night.

Uses 'koto ga aru' to describe occasional occurrences.

嘘をついたり、人をだましたりしてはいけません。

You must not do things like tell lies or deceive people.

Used with 'te wa ikemasen' for prohibitions.

山に登ったり、川で遊んだりして一日を過ごしました。

I spent the day doing things like climbing mountains and playing in the river.

Shows how the day was spent using 'shite... sugoshita'.

気分が良かったり、悪かったり、波があります。

My mood has ups and downs, sometimes good and sometimes bad.

Describes emotional fluctuations.

電車が遅れたりすると困ります。

It's a problem when things like the train being late happen.

Uses 'tari suru to' to show a conditional result.

忘れ物をしたりしないように気をつけてください。

Please be careful not to do things like forget your belongings.

Negative form 'shinai you ni' used for advice.

先生に質問したり、ノートをまとめたりして勉強します。

I study by doing things like asking the teacher questions and organizing my notes.

Describes a study method.

彼女の態度は、親切だったり冷たかったりして、よく分かりません。

Her attitude is sometimes kind and sometimes cold, so I don't really understand her.

Describes inconsistent behavior.

物価が上がったり下がったりするのは、経済の影響です。

The fact that prices go up and down is due to the influence of the economy.

Nominalizes the 'tari' phrase to discuss economic trends.

この仕事は、やりがいがあったり、責任が重かったりします。

This job is rewarding but also carries heavy responsibility.

Balances positive and negative aspects of a situation.

知らない人に話しかけられたりすると、緊張してしまいます。

I get nervous when things like being spoken to by strangers happen.

Uses the passive form with 'tari'.

計画を立てたり、準備をしたりする時間が一番楽しいです。

The time spent doing things like making plans and preparing is the most enjoyable.

Focuses on the process rather than the result.

道が混んでいたり、工事をしていたりして、遅刻しました。

I was late because the roads were crowded and there was construction (and so on).

Uses 'tari... shite' to provide multiple reasons for an outcome.

人生には、良いことがあったり悪いことがあったりするものです。

Life is made of good things and bad things happening.

A philosophical use of 'tari' to describe the nature of life.

会議で意見を言ったり、提案をしたりするのは重要です。

It is important to do things like express opinions and make proposals in meetings.

Professional context for 'tari'.

景気の変動によって、雇用が増えたり減ったりする現象が見られます。

Depending on economic fluctuations, the phenomenon of employment increasing or decreasing can be observed.

Academic/Formal usage for describing trends.

伝統を守ったり、新しい文化を取り入れたりしながら、町は発展してきました。

The town has developed while preserving traditions and incorporating new culture.

Uses 'nagara' with 'tari' to show simultaneous processes.

その作家の文体は、繊細だったり力強かったりして、読者を魅了します。

The author's writing style is sometimes delicate and sometimes powerful, captivating readers.

Literary description of style.

法改正によって、権利が制限されたり、義務が生じたりする可能性があります。

Due to legal amendments, there is a possibility that rights may be restricted or obligations may arise.

Legal/Formal context listing potential outcomes.

環境問題に対して、個人でできることを考えたり、実践したりすることが求められています。

Regarding environmental issues, people are expected to think about and put into practice what they can do as individuals.

Social commentary/Call to action.

歴史を紐解くと、国家が興ったり滅んだりする過程が克明に記されています。

When unravelling history, the process of nations rising and falling is clearly documented.

Formal historical analysis.

人間関係において、妥協したり、主張したりするバランスが難しい。

In human relationships, the balance between compromising and asserting oneself is difficult.

Abstract psychological observation.

科学技術の進歩は、我々の生活を便利にしたり、新たな課題を生んだりしています。

Advancements in science and technology are making our lives more convenient while also creating new challenges.

Discussing dual impacts of a single cause.

万物流転の理のごとく、世の中は常に移ろい、栄えたり衰えたりを繰り返す。

Just like the principle of all things being in flux, the world is constantly changing, repeating the cycle of prosperity and decline.

Highly literary/philosophical tone using classical imagery.

彼の言動は、時に哲学的だったり、時に世俗的だったりと、一筋縄ではいかない。

His words and actions are sometimes philosophical and sometimes mundane; he is not a simple person to deal with.

Nuanced character description using 'to' to end the sequence.

芸術とは、既存の価値観を破壊したり、新たな美を創造したりする果てしない試みである。

Art is an endless attempt to destroy existing values and create new beauty.

Definitional/Theoretical statement.

政治家たるもの、民意を汲み取ったり、未来を提示したりする責務を負うべきだ。

As a politician, one should bear the responsibility of discerning the public will and presenting a vision for the future.

Formal discourse on ethics and responsibility.

情報の洪水の中で、真実を見極めたり、取捨選択したりする能力が試されている。

In the flood of information, our ability to discern the truth and choose what to keep or discard is being tested.

Critical analysis of modern society.

古来より、日本人は自然を敬ったり、その恵みに感謝したりして共生してきた。

Since ancient times, Japanese people have coexisted with nature by respecting it and giving thanks for its blessings.

Cultural/Historical narrative.

研究においては、仮説を立てたり、検証を繰り返したりする地道な作業が不可欠である。

In research, the steady work of formulating hypotheses and repeating verifications is indispensable.

Academic rigor and process description.

言葉は、人を傷つけたり、逆に救ったりする諸刃の剣である。

Words are a double-edged sword that can hurt people or, conversely, save them.

Metaphorical use of 'tari' to show opposing possibilities.

Häufige Kollokationen

〜たり〜たりする

〜たりすることがある

〜たりして

〜たり、〜たりだ

行ったり来たり

浮いたり沈んだり

増えたり減ったり

食べたり飲んだり

見たり聞いたり

泣いたり笑ったり

Häufige Phrasen

行ったり来たりする

〜たりして！

〜たりしなかった？

〜たりしてはいけない

〜たりするな

〜たりするのが好き

〜たりして過ごす

〜たり、〜たりで大変だ

〜たりして助かった

〜たりすることもある

Wird oft verwechselt mit

たり vs ~て (~te)

Te-form is for sequence (First A, then B). Tari-form is for non-sequential examples.

たり vs ~し (~shi)

Shi is for listing reasons or cumulative qualities. Tari is for listing actions or states.

たり vs とか (toka)

Toka is more casual and can be used for nouns or verbs. Tari is more standard for verbs.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"行ったり来たり"

To pace back and forth or to vacillate between two options.

考えが行ったり来たりして決まらない。

Neutral

"泣いたり笑ったり"

An emotional rollercoaster; a mix of joy and sorrow.

泣いたり笑ったりの人生だ。

Neutral

"浮いたり沈んだり"

To have ups and downs, particularly in mood or fortune.

彼の成績は浮いたり沈んだりしている。

Neutral

"付かず離れず"

Keeping a proper distance (though not using 'tari', it shares the alternating logic).

彼らとは付かず離れずの関係だ。

Neutral

"寄ったり触ったり"

Fiddling with things or being restless (less common).

子供が商品を寄ったり触ったりしている。

Informal

"出たり入ったり"

Constantly going in and out.

猫がドアを出たり入ったりしている。

Neutral

"取ったり取られたり"

A see-saw battle; giving and taking.

試合は取ったり取られたりの接戦だった。

Neutral

"言ったり言わなかったり"

Being inconsistent in what one says.

彼は本当のことを言ったり言わなかったりする。

Neutral

"見たり見られたり"

A situation of observing and being observed.

都会は人に見たり見られたりする場所だ。

Neutral

"踏んだり蹴ったり"

Misfortune after misfortune; 'to add insult to injury.' Literally 'stepping and kicking.'

財布を落とした上に雨に降られて、今日は踏んだり蹴ったりだ。

Informal

Leicht verwechselbar

たり vs たり (tari)

Sounds like 'tari' (classical auxiliary).

Modern 'tari' is for listing; classical 'tari' was for completion/state.

Modern: 食べたりする。 Classical: 雲出でたり。

たり vs だり (dari)

It's the same particle but voiced.

Use 'dari' after verbs that end in 'n' in the past tense (e.g., yonda -> yondari).

飲んだり (nondari) vs 食べたり (tabetari).

たり vs なり (nari)

Both end in 'ri' and are used for listing.

Nari is for choosing between options ('A or B'). Tari is for examples ('A and B').

電話なりメールなりで連絡して。

たり vs やら (yara)

Both list examples.

Yara often implies confusion or a large, overwhelming number of things.

うれしいやら悲しいやら。

たり vs だの (dano)

Both list actions/states.

Dano has a negative, complaining nuance.

疲れただの、やりたくないだの。

Satzmuster

[Verb 1 Ta]り、[Verb 2 Ta]りします。

本を読んだり、テレビを見たりします。

[Adj 1 Ta]り、[Adj 2 Ta]りです。

暑かったり寒かったりです。

[Verb Ta]りすることがあります。

遅れたりすることがあります。

[Verb Ta]りして、[Result]。

風邪を引いたりして、休みました。

[Noun]だったり、[Noun]だったりする。

平日だったり休日だったりする。

[Verb Ta]り[Verb Ta]り、忙しい。

行ったり来たり、忙しい。

[Verb Ta]り[Verb Ta]りといった[Noun]。

増えたり減ったりといった変動。

[Verb Ta]り[Verb Ta]りの[Noun]だ。

泣いたり笑ったりの人生だ。

Wortfamilie

Verben

Verwandt

So verwendest du es

frequency

Extremely high in both spoken and written Japanese.

Häufige Fehler

Using dictionary form: 食べるたりする → 食べたりする
You must use the Ta-form (past tense) stem, not the dictionary form.
Forgetting suru: 本を読んだり、お茶を飲んだり。 → 本を読んだり、お茶を飲んだりします。
A 'tari' list is not a complete sentence without a form of 'suru' at the end.
Using 'tari' for sequential actions: 朝起きたら、顔を洗ったり、ご飯を食べたりしました。 → 朝起きたら、顔を洗って、ご飯を食べました。
Use the Te-form for things that happen in a specific order. 'Tari' implies the order doesn't matter.
Wrong voicing: 飲んだり (correct) vs 飲みたり (incorrect) → 飲んだり
If the past tense is 'nonda', the particle must be 'dari'.
Using 'tari' with nouns directly: 先生たり、学生たり → 先生だったり、学生だったり
Nouns and na-adjectives need 'dattari' (from 'datta').

Tipps

The 'Suru' Rule

Never forget the final 'suru'. It's the engine that makes the 'tari' train move. Without it, your sentence is just a list of fragments.

Natural Rhythm

When speaking, put a tiny emphasis on the 'ri' to signal that you're giving examples. It helps native speakers follow your logic.

Don't Over-list

Two items are standard. Three are okay. Four or more starts to sound like a tongue twister. If you have a long list, use other structures.

Ta-form Mastery

Since 'tari' relies on the Ta-form, practicing your Te-form/Ta-form conjugations will directly improve your ability to use 'tari'.

Softening Blows

Use 'tari' when giving feedback. 'Wasuretari shinaide' (Don't do things like forgetting) sounds softer than 'Wasureruna' (Don't forget).

Adjective Pairs

When using adjectives with 'tari', try to use opposites like 'atsukattari samukattari' to show a range of states.

Catch the Tense

Ignore the 'ta' in 'tari' when trying to figure out the tense. Focus entirely on the very last word of the sentence.

The 'Toka' Alternative

In very casual settings, you can use 'toka' instead of 'tari'. 'Tabetari shitari' becomes 'Taberu toka shite'. It's good to know both.

Non-Exhaustive

Only use 'tari' if you want to imply there's more to the story. If you want to be 100% precise, don't use it.

Vagueness is Virtue

Embrace the vagueness of 'tari'. It's a very 'Japanese' way to communicate, showing you don't need to say everything to be understood.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'tari' as 'TA-form + RI-st' (List). You take the TA-form and make a RI-st (list) of things you did.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a shopping list where only a few items are circled. Those circled items are your 'tari' examples, while the rest of the list is implied.

Word Web

Actions Examples Non-exhaustive Ta-form Suru Sometimes Alternating Nuance

Herausforderung

Try to describe your entire yesterday using only 'tari' sentences. Pick the three most interesting things and group them together.

Wortherkunft

Derived from the classical Japanese auxiliary verb 'tari' (たり). In Old Japanese, this was a combination of the particle 'te' (continuative) and the verb 'ari' (to be).

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Originally, 'tari' indicated a state of completion (perfective) or a continuing state. It was used to show that an action had finished and its result remained.

Japonic

Kultureller Kontext

There are no major sensitivities, but avoid using 'tari' when giving strict, life-saving instructions (like 'Press the button and run') because the non-exhaustive nature might imply the order doesn't matter.

English speakers often struggle with 'tari' because they want to use 'and' for everything. Learning 'tari' is a major step in moving away from 'English-translated-into-Japanese' and toward 'Natural Japanese'.

The song 'Warattari Naitari' (Laughing and Crying) is a common theme in J-Pop. Classical literature like 'The Tale of Genji' uses the ancestor of 'tari' frequently. Japanese haiku often use listing techniques that 'tari' facilitates in modern prose.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Talking about hobbies

本を読んだりします
音楽を聴いたりします
スポーツをしたりします
旅行に行ったりします

Describing weather

雨が降ったりやんだり
暑かったり寒かったり
晴れたり曇ったり
風が強かったり

Explaining a busy day

掃除したり洗濯したり
会議に出たり資料を作ったり
電話したりメールしたり
あちこち行ったり来たり

Discussing health/feelings

頭が痛かったり
気分が良かったり悪かったり
眠れなかったり
イライラしたり

Giving instructions/rules

騒いだりしないでください
走ったりしてはいけません
食べたり飲んだりしない
忘れ物をしたりしないように

Gesprächseinstiege

"週末はいつも何をしたりしていますか？ (What do you usually do on weekends?)"

"最近、忙しかったりしますか？ (Have you been busy lately?)"

"日本に来て、どんなところに行ったりしましたか？ (What kind of places have you gone to since coming to Japan?)"

"暇な時は、どんなゲームをしたりしますか？ (What kind of games do you play when you're free?)"

"子供の時、どんな遊びをしたりしましたか？ (What kind of games did you play when you were a child?)"

Tagebuch-Impulse

今日はどんなことをしたりしましたか？三つ挙げて書いてください。 (What did you do today? List three things.)

あなたの理想の休日は、何をしたりして過ごす日ですか？ (What would you do on your ideal day off?)

最近の天気について、どう感じますか？（暑かったり、雨が降ったり...） (How do you feel about the recent weather?)

ストレスが溜まった時、どんなことをしたりしてリラックスしますか？ (What do you do to relax when you're stressed?)

将来、どんな国に行ったり、どんな経験をしたりしたいですか？ (What countries do you want to go to and what experiences do you want to have in the future?)

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Yes, you can. Using it once implies that there are other actions similar to the one you mentioned, even if you don't list them. For example, 'Kaimono o shitari shimashita' means 'I did things like shopping (and other stuff).'

In grammatically correct Japanese, yes. The 'suru' verb carries the tense and politeness. However, in very casual speech, people sometimes omit it if the context is clear, but it's better for learners to always include it.

The 'te' form is for actions that happen in a specific order (I woke up, THEN ate). 'Tari' is for actions that happen in any order or are just examples (I did things like reading and sleeping).

Yes, but you must add 'datta' before 'ri'. So it becomes 'Noun + dattari'. For example, 'Ame dattari, hare dattari' (Sometimes rain, sometimes sunny).

Yes, it is very common in formal writing to list various factors, phenomena, or possibilities. You would just use a formal ending like 'shimasu' or 'shite orimasu'.

Change the final 'i' to 'kattari'. For example, 'oishii' becomes 'oishikattari', and 'tanoshii' becomes 'tanoshikattari'.

No. The 'tari' part just uses the Ta-form as a base. The actual tense of the sentence is decided by the final 'suru'. 'Tabetari shimasu' is present/future; 'Tabetari shimashita' is past.

Yes, you can. For example, 'Uta o utattari, tanoshikattari shimashita' (We sang songs and had a fun time, among other things).

No, 'dari' is just the voiced version of 'tari'. It occurs automatically when the verb's past tense ends in 'da' (like 'yonda' or 'asonda').

You use the negative past tense (nakatta) + ri. For example, 'Tabenakattari shimasu' (Sometimes I don't eat).