〜たり〜たり

The Japanese grammar construction 〜たり〜たり is a versatile and essential tool for expressing a non-exhaustive list of actions or states. In English, we often use the phrase 'doing things like...' or 'sometimes... sometimes...' to convey a similar meaning. This structure allows a speaker to highlight a few representative examples of activities without implying that these are the only things happening. It is particularly useful when you want to describe a busy day, a variety of hobbies, or fluctuating conditions like the weather. Unlike the 〜て form, which usually implies a chronological sequence of events (first A, then B), the 〜たり form suggests that the actions are happening in no particular order, or are simply examples of a larger set of behaviors. This makes the tone feel more casual, descriptive, and open-ended. It is a hallmark of natural Japanese conversation because it avoids the rigidity of a strict timeline.

Core Concept

Representative listing of actions or states where the order is not the primary focus.

When using this pattern, you are essentially saying, 'I did things like X and Y (among other things).' It is very common in social settings when someone asks, 'What did you do over the break?' Instead of listing every single minute detail, you pick the most interesting or relevant activities. This structure also works with adjectives and nouns, though it is most frequently seen with verbs. For adjectives, it describes states that alternate or vary, such as 'sometimes it's hot, sometimes it's cold.' This flexibility makes it a powerful descriptive tool in both spoken and written Japanese. In formal writing, it can still be used, but the final する might be changed to します or しました to maintain the appropriate register. The beauty of 〜たり lies in its ability to paint a broad picture of a situation without getting bogged down in the minutiae of time and sequence.

Grammatical Ending

The final 'suru' carries the tense. If you are talking about the past, use 'shimashita' or 'shita'.

Furthermore, the repetition of 〜たり creates a rhythmic quality in Japanese speech. It sounds balanced and complete. While you can technically use only one 〜たり, it is much more common and natural to use at least two. If you use three or more, it can start to sound a bit cluttered, so two is usually the 'sweet spot' for effective communication. This pattern is also used to describe contrasting actions that happen repeatedly, like 'going back and forth' (ittari kitari). In these cases, the actions are often opposites. Understanding this nuance helps learners move beyond simple sentence structures and start expressing more complex, dynamic situations in a way that sounds authentically Japanese.

Frequency of Use

Extremely high in daily conversation, journals, and descriptive essays.

Using 〜たり〜たり correctly requires a solid understanding of the た-form (past tense) of verbs, adjectives, and nouns. The basic rule is to take the plain past form and add り. For verbs, this means converting 'tabeta' to 'tabetari' or 'nonda' to 'nondari'. For i-adjectives, you change the final い to かったり (e.g., 'atsui' becomes 'atsukattari'). For na-adjectives and nouns, you add だったり (e.g., 'kirei' becomes 'kireidattari', 'ame' becomes 'amedattari'). The most critical part of the sentence is the final verb, which is almost always a form of する. This final する acts as the anchor for the entire sentence, determining whether the actions happened in the past, are happening now, or will happen in the future. It also sets the level of politeness (e.g., suru vs. shimasu).

Verb Conjugation

Plain Past Form + り. Example: 飲む → 飲んだ → 飲んだり.

One of the most common mistakes for beginners is forgetting the final する. Without it, the sentence feels like it's hanging in mid-air. Another nuance to keep in mind is the choice of verbs. While you can list any actions, 〜たり〜たり is most effective when the actions are related or provide a good cross-section of an experience. For example, if you're describing a trip to Tokyo, you might say 'I went to temples and did some shopping.' This gives the listener a clear idea of your trip without you having to list every single train you took or every meal you ate. It's also worth noting that the order of the 〜たり clauses doesn't matter. 'Shopping and eating' is the same as 'eating and shopping' in this context, which is a major difference from the 〜て form where the order usually implies the sequence of events.

Adjective Usage

I-adj: 〜かったり. Na-adj/Noun: 〜だったり. Used to show variation.

When using 〜たり with nouns, it often implies 'sometimes it's X, sometimes it's Y.' For instance, 'Sometimes it's a student, sometimes it's a teacher' would be 'gakusei dattari, sensei dattari suru.' This is particularly useful in professional contexts where someone might wear many hats. In casual speech, you might even hear people end a sentence with just one 〜たりして, which adds a sense of 'maybe...' or 'just doing things like...'. This is a more advanced usage that softens the statement. However, for learners at the B1 level, mastering the double 〜たり〜たり する structure is the priority. It provides a solid foundation for descriptive storytelling and helps you sound much more fluent and natural in your interactions with native speakers.

Common Patterns

Verb A-tari, Verb B-tari suru. (Doing A and B among others).

You will encounter 〜たり〜たり in almost every facet of Japanese life, from casual chats over coffee to formal weather broadcasts. It is one of the most 'real-world' grammar points you can learn. In a casual setting, friends use it to catch up on each other's lives. If you ask a Japanese friend what they did over the weekend, they are almost certain to respond with a 〜たり sentence. For example, 'I just relaxed at home, watched some YouTube, and did some cleaning.' In Japanese, this would naturally flow as 'Yutsubu o mitari, souji o shitari shimashita.' It sounds much more natural than using the 〜て form, which can make a casual weekend sound like a strict military schedule. This pattern allows the speaker to give a 'vibe' of their activities rather than a deposition.

Daily Conversation

Used to describe weekend plans, hobbies, and general life updates.

Another place you will frequently hear this is in weather reports. Japanese weather can be quite fickle, and announcers often use 〜たり to describe alternating conditions. 'Ame ga futtari yandari' (It will rain and stop repeatedly) is a classic phrase. You might also hear it in news reports describing fluctuating stock prices or changing social trends. In these contexts, the grammar conveys a sense of instability or variety. It's not just that things are happening; it's that they are happening in a way that is varied and perhaps a bit unpredictable. This nuance is hard to capture with other grammar points, which is why 〜たり is so indispensable for describing the real world's complexities.

Media and News

Common in weather forecasts and reports on fluctuating trends or prices.

In the workplace, 〜たり〜たり is used to describe job responsibilities that vary. If you are an office worker who does a bit of everything, you might say, 'I do some data entry, answer phones, and sometimes meet with clients.' Using 〜たり here shows that your day is dynamic. It also helps in polite refusal or explanation. For example, if someone asks why you were late, you might say, 'The train was stopping and starting,' using 'tomattari ugokattari.' This sounds less like a specific excuse and more like a description of the chaotic situation. By paying attention to how native speakers use this form, you'll notice it's less about a list of facts and more about creating a certain 'feel' or 'atmosphere' for the information being shared.

Professional Use

Used to describe varied tasks or unpredictable technical issues.

While 〜たり〜たり is a relatively straightforward grammar point, there are several common pitfalls that learners often encounter. The most frequent mistake is forgetting the final する (suru). Many students think that adding り to the end of the verbs is enough to complete the sentence, but without する, the sentence is grammatically incomplete. Think of する as the engine that makes the whole structure work. It carries the tense and the politeness level. If you're talking about yesterday, you must use しました or した. If you're talking about a general habit, use します or する. Forgetting this 'anchor' is the number one reason for confusion among Japanese teachers when listening to students.

Mistake #1: Missing 'Suru'

Incorrect: 映画を見たり、本を読んだり。 Correct: 映画を見たり、本を読んだりします。

Another common error is using 〜たり when the order of events is actually important. If you want to say 'I ate breakfast and then went to school,' you should use the 〜て form (Asagohan o tabete, gakkou e ikimashita). Using 〜たり would imply that you ate breakfast and went to school at various times, or that these are just two examples of things you did, which sounds strange for a simple morning routine. Use 〜たり for general activities or things that happen repeatedly/randomly. Furthermore, some learners try to use the present tense form of the verb before adding り (e.g., 'taberutari'). This is incorrect. You must always use the plain past form (ta-form) as the base. If you struggle with ta-form conjugations, this grammar point will be difficult, so it's a good idea to review your verb basics.

Mistake #2: Wrong Base Form

Incorrect: 食べるたり、飲むたり。 Correct: 食べたり、飲んだり。

Lastly, be careful not to over-use 〜たり. While it's great for listing a few things, listing five or six items using 〜たり makes the sentence very long and difficult to follow. Stick to two or three representative examples. Also, remember that while 〜たり can be used with adjectives and nouns, it's much less common than with verbs. If you're just starting out, focus on mastering the verb usage first. When you do use it with adjectives, ensure you're using the correct past form (e.g., yasukattari, not yasuittari). Misconjugating adjectives is a very common mistake because the rules are slightly different from verbs. By keeping these points in mind, you can avoid the most common errors and use 〜たり〜たり like a pro.

Mistake #3: Sequential Misuse

Don't use 'tari' for things that must happen in a specific order, like 'putting on shoes and leaving'.

In Japanese, there are several ways to list things, and choosing the right one depends on what you are listing and the nuance you want to convey. The most common alternatives to 〜たり〜たり are the 〜て form, the particle や (ya), and the particle とか (toka). Each has its own specific use case. The 〜て form is used for listing actions in a specific chronological order. If you say 'A-te, B-shimasu,' it almost always means you do A first, then B. This is the biggest difference from 〜たり, which is non-sequential. If the order doesn't matter, or if you're just giving examples, 〜たり is the better choice. If the order is vital (like a recipe), use the 〜て form.

Comparison: 〜たり vs. 〜て

〜たり: Non-sequential, representative examples. 〜て: Sequential, exhaustive list of steps.

When listing nouns, you have two main choices: や and とか. The particle や is used for a non-exhaustive list of nouns in a slightly more formal or 'written' style. It's like saying 'A, B, and so on.' The particle とか is the casual, spoken equivalent of や. It's very common in daily conversation. While 〜たり can be used with nouns (by adding だったり), it's much more common to use とか for simple noun lists. For example, 'I like apples and oranges' would be 'Ringo toka mikan toka ga suki.' You would only use 〜たり with nouns if you wanted to emphasize the state of being those things at different times, like 'Sometimes it's a cat, sometimes it's a dog.'

Comparison: 〜たり vs. とか

〜たり: Focuses on actions or varying states. とか: Focuses on a list of items or things.

Another similar structure is 〜し〜し (shi... shi...), which is used to list reasons or characteristics. While 〜たり lists examples of actions, 〜し lists points that lead to a conclusion. For example, 'This room is clean, and it's cheap (so I like it)' would use 〜し. If you used 〜たり, it would sound like the room is sometimes clean and sometimes cheap, which doesn't make much sense. Understanding these subtle differences is key to achieving B1 and B2 proficiency. Each 'listing' grammar has its own 'flavor,' and using the wrong one can change the entire meaning of your sentence. By practicing with 〜たり, you'll learn to describe the dynamic, varied nature of life in a way that sounds sophisticated and natural.

Comparison: 〜たり vs. 〜し

〜たり: Examples of actions/states. 〜し: Listing reasons or multiple qualities.