たり〜たり

たり〜たり means do such things as A and B. It is a JLPT N5 Japanese grammar pattern used to list representative actions.

This grammar point appears often in beginner conversations, classroom Japanese, and JLPT-style questions. If you want to list representative actions, たり〜たり is a useful pattern to learn because it helps you build natural basic sentences.

What does たり〜たり mean?

Use たり〜たり when you want to list representative actions.

Natural translations include:

• do such things as A and B
• do things like A and B
• do things like A and B

The exact English translation changes with context. Focus on the role of the grammar point in the sentence first, then choose the English phrase that sounds natural.

How to form たり〜たり

Verb た-form + り + Verb た-form + り + する

Examples of the pattern:

• 読んだり書いたりする
• 食べたり飲んだりする
• 行ったり来たりする

Pay attention to the word form before and after the pattern. Many beginner mistakes happen because the meaning is understood, but the grammar is attached to the wrong form.

When is たり〜たり used?

Use たり〜たり in situations like:

• describing weekends
• listing activities without saying everything
• talking about repeated varied actions

Tone and register:

• neutral and common
• Common in daily speech, textbook examples, and beginner JLPT questions

たり〜たり example sentences

• 週末は映画を見たり買い物したりします。 — On weekends I do things like watch movies and shop.
• 休みの日は本を読んだり音楽を聞いたりします。 — On days off, I do things like read books and listen to music.
• 日本語を聞いたり話したりします。 — I do things like listen to and speak Japanese.
• 公園で走ったり歩いたりしました。 — At the park, I did things like run and walk.
• 友達と食べたり飲んだりしました。 — I did things like eat and drink with friends.

Read the Japanese sentence first, then check the English translation. Try to notice what the grammar point contributes: question, contrast, reason, time limit, suggestion, negation, comparison, or obligation.

Nuance of たり〜たり

The key nuance is the listed actions are examples, not a complete list.

This matters because beginner Japanese often uses small words and endings to show meaning that English expresses with word order or helper verbs. For たり〜たり, the sentence can change a lot depending on placement and context.

For example:

• In conversation, it helps the listener understand the listed actions are examples, not a complete list.
• Compared with て, it has a different job even when the English translation looks close.

たり〜たり vs て

Both たり〜たり and て can express related ideas, but they are different.

たり〜たり:

• lists sample actions
• often ends with する

て:

• connects actions in sequence or manner
• can sound like a more complete sequence

Quick contrast examples:

• 週末は映画を見たり買い物したりします。— On weekends I do things like watch movies and shop.
• 映画を見て買い物しました。— I watched a movie and shopped.

If you are unsure which one to use, ask what the sentence is trying to do: ask a question, connect ideas, show a reason, mark time, make an invitation, compare two things, or express obligation.

Common mistakes with たり〜たり

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Forgetting the final する
• Thinking the list is always complete
• Using dictionary form before り

A good study habit is to write one short sentence and then change only the grammar point. This makes the difference between similar patterns easier to feel.

Is たり〜たり on the JLPT?

Yes. たり〜たり is commonly taught as JLPT N5 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

For test preparation, do not only memorize the English gloss. Practice identifying the words around the grammar point, because JLPT questions often test structure and context together.

Practice questions for たり〜たり

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Describe weekend activities with たり〜たり.
• Say you read and listen to music.
• Say you practice listening and speaking Japanese.

Keep the sentences short at first. Once the form feels natural, add time words, places, reasons, or contrast to make the sentence more realistic.

Learning path for たり〜たり

Use たり〜たり as part of your JLPT N5 listing, choice, and inclusion grammar toolkit. Use the pattern to decide whether the sentence lists everything, gives examples, offers alternatives, or adds “also/even.” Practice with two simple nouns or actions before making longer lists.

A good review order is: first make one short sentence with たり〜たり, then compare it with でも, and finally add も or 一緒に（いっしょに） to see how the basic meaning changes.

For practice, keep the sentence short: write one example with たり〜たり, one example with a different subject or time word, and one example that contrasts it with a related pattern below.

Related grammar to review next

• でも — contrasts with this pattern from the reason, contrast, and connector grammar group.
• も — adds another way to list examples, choices, inclusion, or limits.
• 一緒に（いっしょに） — adds another way to list examples, choices, inclusion, or limits.
• や — adds another way to list examples, choices, inclusion, or limits.

Learn たり〜たり with Hane

If you want to review たり〜たり together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

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