55405
I've come across the following sentence while watching a show :

> こんな所で立ち止まったりしない

...which, according to the subtitles, translates as :

> [She] won't stop after coming all this way.

I had a rough idea of what this meant without the subtitles, but I'm unclear
on how it works grammatically : why is the ーたり suffix used here? Why not
simply use something like 立ち止まらない ?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-25T00:47:32.143
55396
2022-03-31T06:46:38.277
2017-12-25T09:26:26.920
5010
14465
question
grammar
Meaning of ーたりしない
In addition to the basic usage of giving examples, you can use たり with some
"unlikely" thing and emphasize how unexpected or extraordinary it is. It can
be translated in many ways.

>   * 彼、本気だっ **たり** して! _Maybe_ he is serious!  
>  ([～たりして](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/5705/5010) is a set phrase)
>   * 地図を持ってい **たり** しますか? _By any chance_ , do you have a map?
>   * 私は彼の友達だっ **たり** する。 I _happen to_ be his friend.
>   * 負け **たり** するなよ。 Don't you _ever_ lose!  
>  (as compared to 負けるなよ, this sounds less serious, or implies the speaker
> believes the listener is unlikely to lose)
>

こんな所で立ち止まったりしない is close to the fourth one above. This たり emphasizes how
unexpected 立ち止まる is in the context.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2017-12-25T09:24:56.033
55405
2022-03-31T06:43:03.160
2022-03-31T06:43:03.160
30454
5010
55396
answer
The structure したりしない is stronger than a simple negative, also meaning "never".
But also meaning "(not even (extreme situation)) wouldn't do it."
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-07T17:13:49.057
72326
2019-10-07T20:47:23.063
2019-10-07T20:47:23.063
1628
35601
55396
answer
I came across [a study on the usage of _-tari_
constructions](https://kanazawa-u.repo.nii.ac.jp/index.php?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=31445&item_no=1&attribute_id=26&file_no=1&page_id=13&block_id=21).
I must admit I don't fully understand it, but here is what I could glean from
the paper.

Typical constructions with only one _-tari_ phrase instead of two can be used
to set a situational frame, inviting the listener to focus on characteristics
of a situation. Doing this can achieve the following effects:

  1. **Softening**

> _Example_
>
> しばらく彼と会ったりしないほうがいい。  
>  It's better not to meet up with him for the time being.

Rather than「会わないほうがいい」which is a direct advice, using 「会ったりしないほうがいい」couches
the specific advice as an example and has a cushioning effect.

  2. **Emphasis**

> _Example_
>
> 彼女に払わせたりしませんよ。  
>  There's no way I would let my girlfriend pay for this.

Adding 「たり」 implies that there are other examples along the same intention.
However, the effect of omitting these other examples is to focus the
listener’s attention on the characteristics of the specified action (perhaps
from the speaker’s point of view letting a girl pay is not a 'masculine' thing
to do) and in turn putting emphasis on the speaker's denial.

  3. **Judgement**

> _Example_
>
> どうしてあんな人を誘ったりしたんですか。  
>  Why did you invite someone like him/her?

This can be extended from the previous function. By directing the listener to
focus on the characteristics of the example provided (あんな人を誘う), it adds a
layer of judgement on the action.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-08T12:31:52.023
72361
2022-03-31T06:46:38.277
2022-03-31T06:46:38.277
30454
35608
55396
answer