each; every; at intervals of (ごとに) – Japanese Grammar ごとに (goto ni)

Q: What JLPT level is ごとに?

JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast

Q: How do you use ごとに in a sentence?

Attach ごとに to the appropriate verb or noun form. Each; every; at intervals of

Q: Is ごとに formal or casual Japanese?

ごとに can be used in both casual conversation and polite speech depending on context.

ごとに

N3 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

goto ni

each; every; at intervals of

際に sai ni 一度に ichido ni がたい gatai くらい・ぐらい kurai / gurai にとって ni totte ようとしない you to shinai に比べて ni kurabete ほど hodo たとたん ta totan 上に ue ni てばかりいる te bakari iru どんなに～ても donna ni~temo 切れない kirenai に慣れる ni nareru ている場合じゃない teiru baai janai と共に to tomo ni てしょうがない te shou ga nai ところが tokoro ga とすれば to sureba んだって ndatte 際に sai ni 一度に ichido ni がたい gatai くらい・ぐらい kurai / gurai にとって ni totte ようとしない you to shinai に比べて ni kurabete ほど hodo たとたん ta totan 上に ue ni てばかりいる te bakari iru どんなに～ても donna ni~temo 切れない kirenai に慣れる ni nareru ている場合じゃない teiru baai janai と共に to tomo ni てしょうがない te shou ga nai ところが tokoro ga とすれば to sureba んだって ndatte

🃏 Flashcard

ごとに

goto ni

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each; every; at intervals of

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N3

Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast

Reading goto ni

Post ID 50839

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

each; every; at intervals of

📖 How to use it

Indicates that something happens for each unit or at regular intervals.

Attaches to Attaches to nouns (often with の omitted), verbs in dictionary form, and sometimes ない-stem or い-adjective stem? More precisely: ごと (noun) + に, attached directly to a noun or to the dictionary form of a verb. For example: 人ごと, 日ごと, 会うごとに.

This ごとに means 'each' or 'every' and stresses that something occurs repeatedly for each item or interval. It attaches to a noun (like 人 or 日) or to a verb in its dictionary form. For example, 人ごとに means 'for each person', and 日ごとに means 'day by day' or 'every day' (emphasizing change or repetition). When attached to a verb, like 会うごとに, it means 'each time we meet' or 'every time we meet'.

You can also use it with intervals like 一時間ごとに, meaning 'every hour'. Note that ごとに is more formal and written-oriented than たびに, but both can mean 'each time'. However, ごとに often emphasizes regularity or division into units, while たびに emphasizes 'every occasion'.

Be careful: the same spelling ごと (without に) can mean 'together with' or 'including' (as in ごとく? Actually, ごと is used in ごとし meaning 'like'). Also, there is a different grammar point ごと (like あたかも...ごとく) meaning 'like/as if', but that is literary. In this entry, we focus only on ごとに meaning 'each/every'.

この薬は一日ごとに飲んでください。

Kono kusuri wa ichinichi goto ni nonde kudasai.

Please take this medicine every day.

駅に着くごとに、時計を見る。

Eki ni tsuku goto ni, tokei o miru.

Each time I arrive at the station, I check the clock.

グループごとに発表をします。

Gurūpu goto ni happyō o shimasu.

Presentations are given for each group.

Not たびにたびに means 'every time' and is used with verbs, often for personal experiences (e.g., 会うたびに). ごとに can also mean 'each time' but also works for units and intervals (e.g., 人ごと, 一時間ごと). Also, ごとに is slightly formal and can sound written.

Register Neutral, used in both speaking and writing, but more common in written or formal speech than in casual conversation.

🎯 Quick Quiz

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ごとに

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Press Hear it and repeat ごとに three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using ごとに. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns

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気味

-like; -looking; -looked; tending to

ほど

degree; extent; bounds; upper limit

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern ごとに mean? ▼

Each; every; at intervals of

What JLPT level is ごとに? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use ごとに in a sentence? ▼

Attach ごとに (goto 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 ごとに formal or casual Japanese? ▼

ごとに is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.

How can I remember ごとに long-term? ▼

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.