JLPT N3・N4・N5 Grammar – Difference between “〜たり〜たり”, “〜し〜し”, “〜て〜て” and “〜とか〜とか”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “〜たり〜たり”, “〜し〜し”, “〜て〜て” and “〜とか〜とか”
2. 〜たり〜たり
3. 〜し〜し
4. 〜て〜て
5. 〜とか〜とか
6. Let’s Compare
7. Summary
8. Quiz
9. Similar Articles
10. Comment

Q: What is the difference between “～たり～たり”, “～し～し”, “～て～て”, and “～とか～とか”?

A: These four expressions have completely different meanings. Read the following explanation to understand their usage.

〜たり〜たり (JLPT N5)

[Meaning]
Used to list multiple actions as examples.

[Rule]
[V] Verb past tense + り + Verb past tense + り + する
*Must always end with a verb like “～する”

[Key Points]
・Lists two or more actions to explain what kind of activities were done.
・The verbs do not have to be the same; different verbs can also be used (e.g., “食たべたり、歩あるいたりする”).
・While typically used with two or more examples, it can sometimes be used with just one depending on the context.

[Examples]
昨日きのうは映画えいがを見みたり、買かい物ものしたりしました。
Yesterday, I watched a movie and went shopping.

休日きゅうじつは読書どくしょをしたり、運動うんどうをしたりして過すごします。
On holidays, I spend time reading books and exercising.

旅行りょこうでは、美術びじゅつ館かんへ行いったり、おいしいものを食たべたりしました。
During my trip, I visited art museums and ate delicious food.

子こどもたちは公園こうえんで走はしったり、ボールで遊あそんだりしています。
The children are running and playing with a ball in the park.

〜し〜し (JLPT N4)

[Meaning]
An expression used to list multiple reasons or elements.
Mainly used for enumerating reasons or emphasizing evaluations and characteristics.

[Rule]
[V] Verb plain form + し + Verb plain form + し
[A] い Adjective plain form + し + い Adjective plain form + し
[Na] な Adjective plain form + し + な Adjective plain form + し
[N] Noun plain form + し + Noun plain form + し

[Key Points]
・Used to state one or more reasons.
・Can also be used to list facts.
・The sentence often ends with an assertion, suggestion, or conclusion.
・While usually listing two or more reasons, it can also be used with just one

[Examples]
夏なつは海うみで泳およげるし、お祭まつりも多おおいし、好すきです。
I like summer because I can swim in the sea and there are many festivals.

アパートから会社かいしゃまで遠とおいし、家賃やちんも高たかいし、引っ越ひ　こすつもりです。
My apartment is far from my company, and the rent is high, so I plan to move.

今日きょうは暇ひまだし、どこかに行いこうか。
I’m free today, so shall we go somewhere?

明日あしたは晴はれだし、どこか出でかける？
It will be sunny tomorrow, so shall we go out somewhere?

〜て〜て　(JLPT N4)

[Meaning]
Used to connect consecutive actions, adjectives, or nouns.
Replaces “そして” or “それから”, linking two or more sentences naturally.

① Connecting consecutive actions

[Rule]
[V] Verb て form + Verb て form

[Key Points]
・Used when performing multiple actions in sequence.
・Can replace “そして” or “それから”.
・Typically connects actions performed by the same subject.

[Examples]
今日きょうは友達ともだちに会あって、食事しょくじします。
Today, I will meet my friend and have a meal.

家いえへ帰かえって、シャワーを浴あびて、晩ばんごはんを食たべます。
I will go home, take a shower, and eat dinner.

朝あさ起おきて、コーヒーを飲のんで、仕事しごとに行いきます。
In the morning, I wake up, drink coffee, and go to work.

② Connecting adjectives and nouns

[Rule]
[A] い Adjective い + くて
[Na] な Adjective な + で
[N] Noun + で

[Key Points]
・Used to connect sentences with adjectives or nouns.
・Can replace “そして”, making two sentences flow naturally.

[Examples]
仕事しごとは忙いそがしくて、大変たいへんです。
Work is busy and tough.

マリアさんはきれいで、やさしいです。
Maria is beautiful and kind.

カンさんは韓国かんこく人じんで、学生がくせいです。
Kang is Korean and a student.

〜とか〜とか　(JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
Used to list two or more specific examples from the same category.

[Rule]
[N] Noun + とか + Noun + とか

[Key Points]
・Used to provide specific examples.
・Has the same meaning as “～や～など”, but is more casual and conversational.
・Listing more than three examples may sound unnatural.

[Examples]
冷蔵れいぞう庫こに野菜やさいとか卵たまごとかがあります。
There are vegetables and eggs in the refrigerator.

わたしのクラスには中国ちゅうごく人じんとかネパール人じんとかが多おおいです。
There are many Chinese and Nepalese people in my class.

週末しゅうまつは映画えいがとかカフェとかに行いくのが好すきです。
I like going to places like movie theaters and cafes on weekends.

日本にほん料理りょうりでは、寿司すしとか天てんぷらとかが有名ゆうめいです。
In Japanese cuisine, sushi and tempura are famous.

[Unnatural Example]
× クラスには中国ちゅうごく人じんとかネパール人じんとかアメリカ人じんとか韓国かんこく人じんが多おおいです。
There are many Chinese, Nepalese, Americans, and Koreans in the class.
⇒ Too many examples are listed, making the sentence sound unnatural. When listing three or more items, using “～や～など” is more appropriate.

Let’s Compare

[～たり～たり VS ～とか～とか]

First, let’s compare the differences between “～たり～たり” and “～とか～とか,” which share the common feature of listing about two things.

①～たり～たり：Used for listing actions
“～たり～たり” is used when selecting two or more actions as examples from multiple activities.

[Examples]
昨日きのうは渋谷しぶやへ行いったり、新宿しんじゅくへ行いったりしました。
Yesterday, I went to Shibuya and Shinjuku.
⇒ Highlights two actions (“going to Shibuya” and “going to Shinjuku”) from multiple activities.

昨日きのうは渋谷しぶやへ行いったり、友達ともだちに会あったりしました。
Yesterday, I went to Shibuya and met my friend.
⇒ Can be used even when the verbs are different (e.g., “go” and “meet”).

②～とか～とか： Used for listing nouns
“～とか～とか” is used when selecting two or more nouns as examples from the same category.

[Example]
昨日きのうは渋谷しぶやとか新宿しんじゅくとかへ行いきました。
Yesterday, I went to places like Shibuya and Shinjuku.
⇒ Lists place names as examples (Shibuya, Shinjuku). When expressing actions (movement, etc.), “～たり～たり” is more appropriate.

[Key Differences]
“～たり～たり” → Used for listing actions (e.g., “go,” “eat,” “see”).
“～とか～とか” → Used for listing nouns (e.g., “Shibuya,” “Shinjuku,” “movies,” “sushi”).

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[～し～し VS ～て～て]

“～し～し” and “～て～て” are both used to list multiple things, but their usage differs.

①～し～し ：Listing reasons or characteristics

[Examples]
夏なつは海うみで泳およげるし、お祭まつりも多おおいし、好すきです。
I like summer because I can swim in the sea and there are many festivals.
⇒ Reasons for liking summer: “I can swim” and “there are many festivals.”

アパートから会社かいしゃまで遠とおいし、家賃やちんも高たかいし、引っ越ひ　こすつもりです。
My apartment is far from my company, and the rent is high, so I plan to move.
⇒ Reasons for moving: “The company is far” and “the rent is high.”

②～て～て ：Connecting consecutive actions or adjectives/nouns

・Connecting consecutive actions
家いえへ帰かえって、シャワーを浴あびて、晩ばんごはんを食たべます。
I will go home, take a shower, and eat dinner.
⇒ “Go home. Then, take a shower. Then, eat dinner.”

・Connecting adjectives/nouns
仕事しごとは忙いそがしくて、大変たいへんです。
Work is busy and tough.
⇒ “It is busy. And, it is tough.” (Describing the state of work)

[Key Differences]
“～し～し” → Lists reasons (“because”).
“～て～て” → Connects consecutive actions or adjectives/nouns (“and then”).

Summary

[～たり～たり ]

• Lists two or more actions from multiple possibilities.

[～し～し ]

• Lists one or more reasons or characteristics.

[～て～て]

• Used instead of “そして” to connect actions or states smoothly.

[～とか～とか]

• Lists about two specific examples from the same category.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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