～たり、～たり します

When to use

Lists representative actions rather than nouns/examples - "does things like X and Y" - a different construction from とか/など but the same non-exhaustive-listing idea.

Explanation

The ～たり、～たり します grammar point is used to list multiple actions or states without fully enumerating them. It can imply that there are more items in the list and can be translated as 'do things like', 'and', 'among other things', or 'and so on' in English. It is formed by attaching たり to the casual past tense of the verb, followed by します.

• 休日きゅうじつには、映画えいがを見たり、友達ともだちと遊あそんだりします。

  On holidays, I do things like watch movies and hang out with friends.

  Kyuujitsu ni wa, eiga wo mitari, tomodachi to asondari shimasu.

• 彼かれは歌うたったり、踊おどったり、ピアノを弾ひいたりします。

  He sings, dances, plays the piano, among other things.

  Kare wa utattari, odottari, piano wo hikitari shimasu.

• このレストランでは、寿司すしを食たべたり、刺身さしみを食たべたりします。

  At this restaurant, you can eat sushi, sashimi, and so on.

  Kono resutoran de wa, sushi wo tabetari, sashimi wo tabetari shimasu.

• 彼女かのじょは毎朝まいあさ、ジョギングしたり、ヨガをしたりします。

  Every morning, she does things like jogging and yoga.

  Kanojo wa maiasa, joggingu shitari, yoga wo shitari shimasu.

Other forms

• ～たり～たりPolitenessN4

Listing (Such As / Etc.)

• A とか B とかN4Used to express multiple examples or possibilities; 'such…
• ～など〜nadoN3Indicates a non-exhaustive list of examples; 'such as'…
• Noun や Noun など～Noun ya Noun nadoN5Lists items or examples but not exhaustively; 'such as'…
• ～なんか〜nankaN3Expresses the idea of 'things like' or 'something like'…
• ～やら～やら〜yara〜yaraN2Expresses various items or actions, 'things like..., and…
• A だの B だのA dano B danoN1Used to list examples (often with a critical or…
• A というか B というかA to iu ka B to iu kaN1Means 'rather than say A, it's more like B', or 'whether…

Compare when to use each