Japanese grammar
What does ～たり～たりする mean? Japanese grammar N5
～たり～たりする means doing things like ~ and ~; lists a few representative actions.
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N5 |
|---|---|
| Structure | Vた + り、Vた + りする |
| Romaji | tari tarisuru |
| Meaning | doing things like ~ and ~; lists a few representative actions |
Forming it
| Connection | Vた + り、Vた + りする |
|---|
How to use it
List two or more representative activities without claiming the list is complete or in order.
- Each verb is changed to the た form and り is added; the chain ends with する, which is conjugated for tense.
- Unlike ～て～て, this pattern only gives representative examples and does not necessarily follow chronological order.
Examples
日曜日は本を読んだり、映画を見たりします。
On Sundays I do things like read books and watch movies.
昨日は雨が降ったり、やんだりしました。
Yesterday it rained on and off.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong本を読みたり、映画を見たりします。
On Sundays I do things like read books and watch movies.
Correct本を読んだり、映画を見たりします。
Before り, the た form must be used: 読む → 読んだり.
-
Wrong日曜日は本を読んだり、映画を見たりです。
On Sundays I do things like read books and watch movies.
Correct日曜日は本を読んだり、映画を見たりします。
This pattern ends with 「する」, not 「です」: ～たり～たりします.
Exam tips
- Answer choices often trap you with the ます stem + たり; build the た form first.