do things like ~ and ~

Beginner

10-15 min

very common

Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Lists representative actions from a larger set. Implies other similar actions.

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

週末は映画を見たり、買い物したりします。

Shuumatsu wa eiga wo mitari, kaimono shitari shimasu.

On weekends I do things like watch movies and go shopping.

本を読んだり、音楽を聴いたりしました。

Hon wo yondari, ongaku wo kiitari shimashita.

I did things like read books and listen to music.

Must end with する. The actions listed are representative, not exhaustive.

です/だ

to be (copula)

は (wa)

topic marker

が (ga)

subject marker

を (wo)

direct object marker

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated: Jan 10

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