[Serie: All About Japanese Particles]
1. Indicates that several actions are listed in no particular sequence: “such things as.”
日曜日はたいてい友達とテニスをしたり、映画を見に行ったりします。
Nichiyōbi wa taitei tomodachi to tenisu o shitari, eiga o mi ni ittari shimasu.
On Sundays I usually do such things as play tennis with my friends or go to see movies.
旅行中は美術館に行ったりお土産を買ったりで、あっという間に時間がなくなりました。
Ryokō-chū wa bijutsu-kan ni ittari omiyage o kattari de, atto iu ma ni jikan ga nakunarimashita.
Time passed quickly during the trip, what with going to museums, buying souvenirs for people back home, and such.
Note: Used with only one verb, -tari indicates that the action of the verb is representative of a number of actions: “such things as …”
天気の悪い日には、家で音楽を聞いたりします。
Tenki no warui hi ni wa, ie de ongaku o kiitari shimasu.
On days when the weather is bad, I listen to music and do other such things at home.
2. Indicates that several like actions are performed.
午前中は漢字を書いたり読んだりする。
Gozen-chū wa kanji o kaitari yondari suru.
In the morning I read and write kanji.
この頃その俳優のことをテレビや雑誌で聞いたり見たりします。
Konogoro sono haiyū no koto o terebi ya zasshi de kiitari mitari shimasu.
These days we [often] see and hear about that actor on TV and in the magazines.
3. Indicates repetition of contrasting actions.
そんなにテレビをつけたり消したりしないでちょうだい。
Sonna ni terebi o tsuketari keshitari shinaide chōdai.
Stop turning the TV on and off like that.
今週、株は上がったり下がったりしています。
Konshū, kabu wa agattari sagattari shite imasu.
Stocks are going up and down this week.
4. Used with the same verb in positive and negative forms: “sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t.”
父は体の調子によって、ゴルフに行ったり行かなかったりします。
Chichi wa karada no chōshi ni yotte, gorufu ni ittari ikanakattari shimasu.
My father goes to play golf [and not to play golf) depending on his physical condition.
日曜日には、テレビを見たり見なかったりします。
Nichiyōbi ni wa, terebi o mitari minakattari shimasu.
Sometimes I watch TV on Sundays and sometimes I don’t.
– Source: All about particles – A handbook of Japanese function words –
