〜たり〜たりする
- 1Gives representative examples of actions or states, implying the list is not complete.Ex. 1
- 2Expresses that two, often opposite, states or actions alternate or keep changing.Ex. 2
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A very common, neutral pattern used in both conversation and writing. It mentions sample activities, such as weekend plans or hobbies, or describes fluctuating conditions such as weather. Unlike 〜て, it does not indicate chronological order. Unlike 〜ながら, it does not specify whether the actions happen at the same time. Tense and politeness are marked on the final する, or on the copula in the 〜たり〜たりだ／で variant.
Note that tense and politeness go on the final する or copula (見たりしました、暑かったり寒かったりでした), not on each たり form.
Do not use this pattern to express a fixed sequence of actions; use 〜て for events that happen in order.
Do not use this pattern to state explicitly that one person does two actions at the same time; 〜ながら marks simultaneity, while たり leaves timing unspecified.
- だの〜だのN2「だの〜だの」 follows the plain form and carries clear dissatisfaction: it typically lists other people's complaints or excuses, is often followed by 「と言う」, and is mostly colloquial. It has no "sometimes… sometimes…" use and is unsuitable for neutral or positive lists.
- つ〜つN2「つ〜つ」 overlaps with this pattern only in expressing repeated alternation; it attaches to the ます-stem and is limited to fixed phrases like 「行きつ戻りつ」, which cannot be freely combined. It has no example-giving use and belongs to written language.
- ながら / いながら / ながらもN3「ながら」 means the same subject does two things at once, with the second action as the main one, and it can also mark contrast; 「たり」 gives examples or alternation, and the listed actions need not happen simultaneously. The simultaneous 「ながら」 attaches to the ます-stem and cannot be replaced with 「たり」.
- といったN2「といった」 follows nouns, quoted content, or even action phrases (as in 「現地に足を運ぶといった対応」) and is followed by a noun, so the whole unit modifies that noun and places the cited examples within its category. 「〜たり〜たりする」 instead lists actions or states, usually ending in 「する」 or 「だ／で」, and can also express repeated alternation, so the two differ in structure and are not interchangeable.
だの〜だの also lists examples, but it usually carries a complaining or critical tone, while といった lists nouns as examples before a following noun (AやBといったC). つ〜つ expresses alternation like sense (2), but it is literary and limited to set phrases such as 行きつ戻りつ; ながら explicitly marks two actions as simultaneous, whereas 〜たり〜たり lists examples or alternation without specifying timing.
