Listing Actions with たり
たり gives examples from a longer list of actions. "I did things like swimming and hiking" — it implies there was more you're not mentioning. Our lesson on conjunctions covers たり alongside other ways to connect clauses.
たり vs て-form
Both connect actions, but they mean different things:
- て-form: lists everything ("I did A, B, and C" — that's the complete list)
- たり: gives examples ("I did things like A and B" — there was more)
How to Form It
- Conjugate each verb to its た-form (past plain)
- Add り after each
- End with する (conjugated for tense)
Verb 1 たり + Verb 2 たり + する
| Dictionary | た-form | たり |
|---|---|---|
| 泳ぐ | 泳いだ | 泳いだり |
| 登る | 登った | 登ったり |
| 歌う | 歌った | 歌ったり |
With Adjectives
Adjectives can also use たり. Add り to the plain past form:
- 大きかったり小さかったりする (sometimes big, sometimes small)
"Sometimes X, Sometimes Y"
たり can express alternating states:
あのスーパーの果物は新しかったり古かったりする。
That supermarket's fruit is sometimes fresh and sometimes old.