〜ごとに
goto ni
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
every… / each… / at every… (each unit or occasion)
〜ごとに means "every" or "each", counting every instance: 三日ごとに "every three days", 学期ごとに "each semester", 会う人ごとに "with every person I meet". It attaches to nouns and to the dictionary form of verbs. Compare 〜おきに, which skips intervals.
Schedules, instructions (薬は六時間ごとに), statistics (地域ごとに), and habits. Written and spoken. Without に, 〜ごと means "including / whole": 皮ごと食べる "eat with the skin".
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Noun (time / unit) + ごとに (三日ごとに, 一年ごとに)Noun (group) + ごとに (クラスごとに, 地域ごとに)Verb (dictionary form) + ごとに (会うごとに)Noun + ごと (whole, including): 皮ごと, 箱ごと
Visual diagram
| Aspect | Counting | 一日〜 means | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜ごとに | Every instance | every day | 三日ごとに水をやる (water every three days: day 1, 4, 7…) |
| 〜おきに | Skip the stated span | every other day | 一日おきに走る (run on day 1, 3, 5…) |
Natural examples
三日ごとに水をやってください。
みっかごとにみずをやってください。
Please water it every three days.
Every three days.
学期ごとに試験がある。
がっきごとにしけんがある。
There is an exam each semester.
Each semester.
会う人ごとに同じ質問をされた。
あうひとごとにおなじしつもんをされた。
I was asked the same question by every person I met.
Verb + ごとに: with every person met.
この電車は十分ごとに出ている。
このでんしゃはじゅっぷんごとにでている。
This train leaves every ten minutes.
Interval with ごとに.
りんごは皮ごと食べたほうが体にいいらしい。
りんごはかわごとたべたほうがからだにいいらしい。
Apparently it's healthier to eat apples with the skin on.
ごと (no に) = 'including, whole'.
Similar grammar and the difference
Skips the stated interval; 一日おきに = every other day. Compare side by side
'Every time (an event happens)', with a clause or event noun (会うたびに). ごとに also works with units and groups. Compare side by side
毎〜
毎日 / 毎週 are simpler; ごとに allows any unit (三日ごと, 二週間ごと).
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 一日ごとに = every other day
- ✓
- 一日ごとに = every day; every other day = 一日おきに
- Why
- ごとに counts every instance without skipping.
- ✗
- 会ったごとに
- ✓
- 会うごとに
- Why
- Verbs take the dictionary form before ごとに.
- ✗
- りんごを皮ごとに食べる
- ✓
- りんごを皮ごと食べる
- Why
- The 'including' sense uses ごと without に.
With long units, ごとに and おきに can coincide in practice (一週間おき ≈ 二週間ごと). 地域ごとに / 人ごとに / 種類ごとに = 'by region / person / type'. 〜ごとの + noun: 学年ごとの目標.
JLPT N3 tips
On the exam
- 'Every X' with a unit or group → ごとに; 'every other X' → おきに.
- Verb before the blank must be dictionary form for ごとに.
- For 'including the whole', the blank is ごと without に (皮ごと, 箱ごと).
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜ごとに mean?
every… / each… / at every… (each unit or occasion). 〜ごとに means "every" or "each", counting every instance: 三日ごとに "every three days", 学期ごとに "each semester", 会う人ごとに "with every person I meet". It attaches to nouns and to the dictionary form of verbs. Compare 〜おきに, which skips intervals.
How do you form 〜ごとに?
Noun (time / unit) + ごとに (三日ごとに, 一年ごとに) / Noun (group) + ごとに (クラスごとに, 地域ごとに) / Verb (dictionary form) + ごとに (会うごとに) / Noun + ごと (whole, including): 皮ごと, 箱ごと. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜ごとに used?
Schedules, instructions (薬は六時間ごとに), statistics (地域ごとに), and habits. Written and spoken. Without に, 〜ごと means "including / whole": 皮ごと食べる "eat with the skin".
What is the difference between 〜ごとに and 〜おきに?
Skips the stated interval; 一日おきに = every other day.
What is the difference between 〜ごとに and 〜たびに?
'Every time (an event happens)', with a clause or event noun (会うたびに). ごとに also works with units and groups.
What is a common mistake with 〜ごとに?
Wrong: 一日ごとに = every other day Right: 一日ごとに = every day; every other day = 一日おきに ごとに counts every instance without skipping.
Quick check
この薬は八時間（ ）に飲んでください。