〜たびに
tabi ni
By Nihongo PathUpdated
This form is also taught at JLPT N3, where it carries a different sense or register.
Meaning
every time, whenever
〜たびに means "every time…, whenever…". Each occurrence of the first event brings the second: every time I hear this song, I remember my school days; every business trip, he brings souvenirs.
Both registers. It follows Vる (会うたびに) or N + の (出張のたびに). It describes repeated pairings, so the second clause is habitual or a repeated change (会うたびに太っている = fatter each time). Not used for one-time events.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Vる + たびに / N + の + たびに
Visual diagram
- この曲を聞くrecurring trigger (Vる / Nの)
- たびにevery time…
- 学生時代を思い出すrecurring response
Natural examples
この曲を聞くたびに、学生時代を思い出す。
このきょくをきくたびに、がくせいじだいをおもいだす。
Every time I hear this song, I remember my school days.
Vる + たびに + habitual response.
彼は会うたびに、太っている。
かれはあうたびに、ふとっている。
He's fatter every time I see him.
たびに with gradual change.
出張のたびに、お土産を買ってくる。
しゅっちょうのたびに、おみやげをかってくる。
Every business trip, he brings back souvenirs.
N + の + たびに.
祖母は会うたびに、「大きくなったね」と言う。
そぼはあうたびに、「おおきくなったね」という。
Every time we meet, my grandmother says, "You've grown!"
A repeated remark.
引っ越しのたびに、荷物が増えていく。
ひっこしのたびに、にもつがふえていく。
With every move, my belongings increase.
Gradual change with ていく.
Similar grammar and the difference
〜と (whenever)
General conditional; たびに stresses each individual occurrence.
Gradual change proportional to another change, not per occurrence. Compare side by side
〜ごとに
"Each / every (interval)": 三日ごとに; can take numbers, which たびに cannot.
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 会ったたびに
- ✓
- 会うたびに
- Why
- Always dictionary form before たびに.
- ✗
- 出張たびに
- ✓
- 出張のたびに
- Why
- Nouns need の.
- ✗
- 昨日彼に会ったたびに、話をした。
- ✓
- 昨日彼に会った時に、話をした。
- Why
- A one-time event takes 時に, not たびに.
Written variants: 〜たび, 〜たびごとに. Common nouns: 出張, 旅行, 引っ越し, 試験, 誕生日. Second clauses with ていく/てくる show progressive change over repetitions.
JLPT N2 tips
On the exam
- A repeated trigger + blank + a habitual or cumulative response → たびに.
- Distractors: 時に, につれて, ごとに. A number before the blank (三日〜) means ごとに.
- Check the verb form: たびに follows Vる, never Vた.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜たびに mean?
every time, whenever. 〜たびに means "every time…, whenever…". Each occurrence of the first event brings the second: every time I hear this song, I remember my school days; every business trip, he brings souvenirs.
How do you form 〜たびに?
Vる + たびに / N + の + たびに. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜たびに used?
Both registers. It follows Vる (会うたびに) or N + の (出張のたびに). It describes repeated pairings, so the second clause is habitual or a repeated change (会うたびに太っている = fatter each time). Not used for one-time events.
What is the difference between 〜たびに and 〜と (whenever)?
General conditional; たびに stresses each individual occurrence.
What is the difference between 〜たびに and 〜につれて?
Gradual change proportional to another change, not per occurrence.
What is a common mistake with 〜たびに?
Wrong: 会ったたびに Right: 会うたびに Always dictionary form before たびに.
Quick check
この写真を見る（ ）、楽しかった旅行を思い出す。