～たりして
Soften a guess, suggestion, or possibility
You’ll be able to float an idea playfully or tentatively instead of stating it directly.
もしかして、外にリスが遊びに来ていたりして。
moshikashite, soto ni risu ga asobi ni kite itari shite.
What do you think this sentence means?
Maybe a squirrel has come to visit outside, who knows.
Float a playful or tentative possibility
～たりして is a casual sentence ending that suggests a playful, surprising, or tentative possibility without asserting it as a definite fact.
明日、雪が降ったりして。
ashita, yuki ga futtari shite.
Maybe it will even snow tomorrow, who knows.
実は、みんなもう知っていたりして。
jitsu wa, minna mou shitte itari shite.
Maybe everyone actually knows already, ha.
Attaching たりして to soften ideas
Attach して to the たり-form of verbs or adjectives at the end of a sentence to gently wonder aloud or float a light speculation.
誰も来なかったらどうしよう、みんな忘れていたりして。
dare mo konakattara dou shiyou, minna wasurete itari shite.
What if nobody comes? Maybe everyone forgot.
～かもしれない vs ～たりして
Both float a possibility. ～かもしれない is neutral and fine anywhere. ～たりして is casual and playful, like a half-joking guess among friends.
～かもしれない, might
田中さんは約束を忘れているかもしれない。
tanaka san wa yakusoku o wasurete iru kamoshirenai.
Tanaka-san might have forgotten the appointment.
A neutral guess.
～たりして, maybe…, ha
田中さんは約束を忘れていたりして。
tanaka san wa yakusoku o wasurete itari shite.
Maybe Tanaka-san has forgotten the appointment, ha.
A playful, casual guess.
あの店、今日は休みだったりして。電気がついてないよ。
ano mise, kyou wa yasumi dattari shite. denki ga tsuite nai yo.
That shop might be closed today. The lights aren’t on.
部長って、実は昔バンドをやっていたりして。歌がすごくうまいし。
buchou tte, jitsu wa mukashi bando o yatte itari shite. uta ga sugoku umai shi.
Maybe the manager actually used to be in a band. They’re a really good singer.
このくじ、もしかして一等が当たったりして！
kono kuji, moshikashite ittou ga atattari shite!
Maybe this ticket has won first prize!
7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.