おきに
🃏 Flashcard
おきに
oki ni
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repeated at intervals, every
N4
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N4
Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences
Reading
oki ni
Post ID
50748
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
repeated at intervals, every
📖 How to use it
Describes the interval between repeated actions or events, meaning 'every (time/distance)'.
Attaches to
Attach to a noun indicating a unit of time or distance (e.g. 時間, 日, メートル) directly, without any particle, as in ２時間おきに (every 2 hours).
This pattern expresses that something happens repeatedly at regular intervals of time or distance. It's like saying 'every two hours', 'every three meters', etc. The noun must be a measure word, and the number comes before the unit. For example, ５分おきに means 'every 5 minutes'. Note that the interval is the gap between events, not the total cycle. For instance, if you take a medicine ２時間おきに, you take it at 0, 2, 4 hours, etc., so there are 2 hours between each dose. This pattern is commonly used in written and spoken Japanese for schedules, timetables, and physical spacing.
この薬は２時間おきに飲んでください。
Kono kusuri wa ni-jikan oki ni nonde kudasai.
Please take this medicine every two hours.
電車は１０分おきに来ます。
Densha wa juppun oki ni kimasu.
Trains come every ten minutes.
この道に５メートルおきに木を植えます。
Kono michi ni go-meetoru oki ni ki o uemasu.
We will plant trees every five meters along this road.
Not ごとに
ごとに means 'each' or 'every', focusing on each individual unit, while おきに emphasizes the interval between events. For example, ２時間ごとに means 'every 2 hours' (as a cycle, e.g., from 0 to 2, 2 to 4), but ２時間おきに often implies a gap, so if you say ２時間おきに, it means you do something, wait 2 hours, do it again. In many contexts they are interchangeable, but おきに is not used for collections like 'each person' (人ごとには, not 人おきに).
Register
Neutral and commonly used in both spoken and written Japanese, appropriate for everyday conversation and instructions.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
おきに
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat おきに three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using おきに. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern おきに mean?
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Repeated at intervals, every
What JLPT level is おきに?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use おきに in a sentence?
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Attach おきに (oki ni) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is おきに formal or casual Japanese?
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おきに is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember おきに long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.