for the first time in (period of time) (ぶりに) – Japanese Grammar ぶりに (buri ni)

Q: What JLPT level is ぶりに?

JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast

Q: How do you use ぶりに in a sentence?

Attach ぶりに to the appropriate verb or noun form. For the first time in (period of time)

Q: Is ぶりに formal or casual Japanese?

ぶりに can be used in both casual conversation and polite speech depending on context.

ぶりに

N3 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

buri ni

for the first time in (period of time)

ついでに tsuide ni がち gachi たとえ～ても tatoe~temo まるで maru de 上に ue ni につれて ni tsurete ば～のに ba~noni ということだ to iu koto da というのは to iu nowa ふと futo をはじめ o hajime すなわち sunawachi てからでないと te kara de nai to 途中で tochuu de を中心に o chuushin ni こそ koso 代わりに kawari ni 向き muki のでしょうか no deshou ka に関する ni kan suru ついでに tsuide ni がち gachi たとえ～ても tatoe~temo まるで maru de 上に ue ni につれて ni tsurete ば～のに ba~noni ということだ to iu koto da というのは to iu nowa ふと futo をはじめ o hajime すなわち sunawachi てからでないと te kara de nai to 途中で tochuu de を中心に o chuushin ni こそ koso 代わりに kawari ni 向き muki のでしょうか no deshou ka に関する ni kan suru

🃏 Flashcard

ぶりに

buri ni

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for the first time in (period of time)

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N3

Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast

Reading buri ni

Post ID 50826

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

for the first time in (period of time)

📖 How to use it

Expresses that an action happens for the first time after a certain period has passed.

Attaches to Attach to a noun expressing a duration of time, such as 一週間 (one week), 一年 (one year), 十年 (ten years). No particles are inserted between the noun and ぶりに.

Use this pattern to say that something has not happened for a certain length of time and that it happens now for the first time. The noun must be a duration, like 三ヶ月 (three months) or 二年 (two years). You cannot use it with a specific point in time, like 5時 (5 o'clock). For example, 三ヶ月ぶりに means 'for the first time in three months.' The action you describe is the one that is happening after that gap.

This pattern often appears in casual conversation, but it is also used in writing. It carries a feeling that the speaker is happy or surprised that the event finally happens again. You might hear it with verbs like 会う (to meet), 食べる (to eat), or 行く (to go). Remember that the noun must be a duration, and the pattern is ぶりに followed directly by the verb.

三年ぶりに日本に帰った。

Sannen-buri ni Nihon ni kaetta.

I returned to Japan for the first time in three years.

久しぶりに友達に会って、うれしかった。

Hisashiburi ni tomodachi ni atte, ureshikatta.

I met my friend for the first time in a while, and I was happy.

一週間ぶりにちゃんと寝た。

Isshukan-buri ni chanto neta.

I slept well for the first time in a week.

Not ぶり vs. 以来 (irai) ぶりに focuses on the duration and the feeling of doing something again after that time. 以来 focuses on the starting point and means 'since then' and often goes with a specific past event. For example, 先月以来 (since last month), but 一ヶ月ぶりに (after one month).

Register Neutral and common in both spoken and written Japanese, though in very casual speech you might hear 久しぶり as a set phrase.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

ぶりに

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Say It Aloud

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

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Flip Before Reading

Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.

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Write Two Sentences

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

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Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns

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別に～ない

not really, not particularly

中

currently; during; throughout

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern ぶりに mean? ▼

For the first time in (period of time)

What JLPT level is ぶりに? ▼

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 ぶりに in a sentence? ▼

Attach ぶりに (buri 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 ぶりに formal or casual Japanese? ▼

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

How can I remember ぶりに 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.