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JLPT N4Grammar Patterns

〜たり〜たり— Do things like… and… (representative actions)

Lists a non-exhaustive set of representative actions or states, implying there are others too ('do things like X and Y'). Also commonly used for alternating or repeated back-and-forth states.

Grammar path · 練習

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Pro lessonUNIT 64 · GRAMMAR PATTERNS

Structure · 形

[Verb た-form] り + [Verb た-form] り + する

Examples · 例文

  • 週末は映画を見たり、本を読んだりします。

    Shuumatsu wa eiga wo mitari, hon wo yondari shimasu.

    On weekends I do things like watch movies and read books.

    見たり + 読んだり + します = representative activities

  • 彼女は笑ったり泣いたりした。

    Kanojo wa warattari naitari shita.

    She kept laughing and crying (by turns).

    alternating states: laughing, then crying

  • 窓を開けたり閉めたりしないでください。

    Mado wo aketari shimetari shinaide kudasai.

    Please don't keep opening and closing the window.

    alternating, repeated actions

Usage notes · 注意

  • たり〜たりする vs て〜て: たり〜たり implies non-exhaustive examples ('among other things'); て〜て gives a fixed sequence or a complete connected list.
  • Single たり: 家で本を読んだりする = 'I do things like read at home (and such),' casual, implying more.
  • The final する carries tense and politeness (します / した / しません).

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones 〜たり〜たり is tested against.

vsて (sequence)

て〜て lists actions in a set order or as an exhaustive chain. たり〜たり lists them as just SOME examples, in no strict order, implying other unstated activities.

vs〜し〜し

し stacks REASONS supporting a conclusion. たり〜たり lists representative ACTIONS/activities, not reasons.

More grammar patterns

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