〜たり〜たりする

§ Understanding 〜たり〜たりする

The Japanese grammar pattern 〜たり〜たりする (often shortened to 〜たりする) is incredibly useful for describing a series of actions or states without implying a specific order or completeness. It means 'to do things like A and B,' or 'to do A, B, and so on.'

Think of it as giving examples of activities rather than a full list. You're saying, 'These are some things that happen,' or 'I do things like this and that.'

§ Basic Structure

The basic structure is simple:

• Verb (た-form) + り
• Verb (た-form) + り
• する

You can list two or more actions. Even if you only list one action with 〜たりする, it still implies there are other similar activities happening or being done. For example, if you say 食べたりする (tabetari suru), it means 'I do things like eating' or 'I eat, among other things.'

§ Examples in Sentences

Let's look at some practical examples to see how it works.

Here, the speaker isn't saying these are the ONLY things they do. They're just giving examples of typical activities.

This sentence describes a few typical weekend activities. There might be other things, but these are good examples.

Notice how 〜たりして is used here. When 〜たり〜たり is followed by another verb (like 勉強しています), する changes to して. This indicates that these actions are part of a larger activity (studying).

§ Using 〜たり〜たりする with Nouns and Adjectives

While primarily used with verbs, you can also use 〜たり〜たりする to list examples of states or qualities by turning adjectives and nouns into verb-like forms.

§ Key Takeaways

• Use 〜たり〜たりする to list examples of actions or states.
• It implies that there are other unmentioned actions/states.
• The order of the listed actions doesn't usually matter.
• The final する can be conjugated for tense and politeness.

Mastering 〜たり〜たりする will make your Japanese sound much more natural when describing multiple activities or various characteristics. Keep practicing with different verbs and situations!

§ What たり たり する Means

This grammar pattern, 〜たり〜たりする (tari tari suru), is super useful. It's how you talk about doing a few different things, but not necessarily all the things you did or in a specific order. Think of it as saying "I did things like A, B, and so on."

DEFINITION

To do things like A and B.

§ When to Use たり たり する

You use this pattern when you want to list a couple of representative actions, implying there might be other similar actions, but these are the main ones you want to highlight. It's often used for activities you do regularly, or for describing a series of events without strict order.

• To describe various activities: When you want to give examples of what you do in a day, on a trip, or during a specific period.

• To express alternating actions: Sometimes, it can show that you do one thing, then another, back and forth.

• To talk about general habits or routines: What kinds of things someone typically does.

§ Examples in Different Situations

Let's see how this word pops up in real-life Japanese conversations.

At Work

In a work setting, you might use 〜たり〜たりする to describe your tasks or what happened during a project meeting.

In the meeting, I did things like giving opinions and taking notes. (Meaning: I gave opinions, took notes, and probably did other things too.)

Over the weekend, I did things like creating documents and contacting clients. (Meaning: I created documents, contacted clients, and other work-related tasks.)

At School

Students use this pattern often to talk about their studies or extracurriculars.

In the library, I do things like reading books and doing homework. (Meaning: I read, do homework, and perhaps other study-related activities.)

With friends at the cafe, we do things like chatting and teaching each other studies. (Meaning: We chat, help each other study, and hang out.)

In the News or General Conversation

News reports might use it to summarize events, and in general talk, it's great for giving an overview of activities.

On weekends, I do things like watching movies and going out to eat with friends. (Meaning: I watch movies, eat with friends, and enjoy other weekend activities.)

He spends his time at home doing things like reading books and listening to music. (Meaning: He reads, listens to music, and does other relaxing activities at home.)

§ Don't confuse it with listing all activities

Many learners, especially at the B1 level, tend to use 〜たり〜たりする when they simply want to list all the activities they did. However, this is not its primary function. 〜たり〜たりする implies a sampling of activities, suggesting that there were other things done, or that these activities happened at different times or in no particular order. It's about giving examples, not a complete inventory.

DEFINITION

To do things like A and B, implying other similar activities or an alternating pattern.

If you want to list every single thing you did, you would typically use the て-form of verbs or simply list them out with conjunctions like そして (and then) or それから (after that).

§ Using it for a single event or action

Another common mistake is to use 〜たり〜たりする for a single, isolated action. This grammar pattern inherently suggests multiple actions, or at least two distinct actions that are representative of a larger set of activities. Using it for one action is grammatically incorrect and will sound very unnatural to a native speaker.

§ Incorrect verb form before たり

Remember that 〜たり attaches to the past tense (た-form) of verbs. Forgetting this and using the dictionary form or masu-form is a frequent error. Always convert your verb to its た-form before adding り.

• 飲む (nomu - to drink) → 飲んだり (nondari)
• 食べる (taberu - to eat) → 食べたり (tabetari)
• する (suru - to do) → したり (shitari)
• 行く (iku - to go) → 行ったり (ittari)

§ Forgetting the final する

The structure is 〜たり〜たりする. Many learners forget to add the final する at the end of the phrase. This する is crucial as it acts as the main verb of the sentence, indicating that the 'doing of such things' is taking place. Without it, the sentence is incomplete.

Notice how the final する completes the thought. It can be conjugated to present, past, negative, etc., depending on the context of the sentence.

§ Overusing the pattern

While useful, 〜たり〜たりする should not be overused. In natural conversation, you often just use the て-form for a sequential list of actions, or simply state actions without explicitly implying other unmentioned activities unless that nuance is truly intended. Overusing it can make your Japanese sound repetitive or unnatural.

§ Not understanding the implication of 'randomness' or 'alternation'

The strength of 〜たり〜たりする lies in its ability to imply a certain randomness, non-specificity, or alternation of activities. If you did A then B in a very specific order, or if A and B are the only two things you did, 〜たり〜たりする might not be the best choice. It often suggests 'sometimes A, sometimes B, and other things too,' or 'doing A and B among other things.'

This sentence implies that these are just examples of what the speaker does on weekends; there might be other activities, and the order isn't fixed.