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〜たびに / 〜度に

tabi ni

By Nihongo PathUpdated

This form is also taught at JLPT N2, where it carries a different sense or register.

Meaning

Every time… / whenever…

〜たびに means that each time one thing happens, another follows: この歌を聞くたびに学生時代を思い出す = every time I hear this song, I remember my school days. The verb before たびに is always in dictionary form, even when talking about the past.

Conversation and writing, memories, habits, complaints (会うたびに文句を言う). Nouns of events take の: 旅行のたびに.

Formation

V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

  • Verb (dictionary form) + たびに
  • Noun (event) + の + たびに
  • Written: 〜度に

Visual diagram

  1. この歌を聞くtrigger (dictionary form)
  2. たびに、every time
  3. 学生時代を思い出す。what follows each time
Every time I hear this song, I remember my school days.

Natural examples

  1. この歌を聞くたびに、学生時代を思い出す。

    このうたをきくたびに、がくせいじだいをおもいだす。

    Every time I hear this song, I remember my student days.

    Trigger + memory: a classic pairing.

  2. 彼は会うたびに、背が高くなっている。

    かれはあうたびに、せがたかくなっている。

    Every time I see him, he's gotten taller.

    会うたびに + a change noticed each time.

  3. 旅行のたびに、お土産を買ってくる。

    りょこうのたびに、おみやげをかってくる。

    Every time I travel, I bring back souvenirs.

    Noun + のたびに: an event that recurs.

  4. 祖母は、私が帰るたびにたくさんの料理を作ってくれる。

    そぼは、わたしがかえるたびにたくさんのりょうりをつくってくれる。

    Every time I go home, my grandmother cooks lots of food for me.

    Dictionary form 帰る even though it is a habit.

  5. 引っ越しのたびに、物が増えていることに気づく。

    ひっこしのたびに、ものがふえていることにきづく。

    Every time I move house, I realize how much stuff I've accumulated.

    Event noun + のたびに.

Similar grammar and the difference

  • 〜と (whenever)

    "When X, Y always happens" as a natural consequence. たびに stresses each separate occasion.

  • 〜ときはいつも

    Same idea in plain words; less compact.

  • 〜ごとに

    "Every (interval)": 三日ごとに. Not "each time an event happens".

Common mistakes

  • ✗
    この歌を聞いたたびに
    ✓
    この歌を聞くたびに
    Why
    Always the dictionary form before たびに.
  • ✗
    旅行たびに
    ✓
    旅行のたびに
    Why
    Nouns need の.
  • ✗
    毎日たびに運動する。
    ✓
    毎日運動する。
    Why
    たびに needs an event that triggers something; a time word like 毎日 is not a trigger.

Always dictionary form (never た-form) before たびに. Stronger sense of "each single occasion" than 〜と (natural consequence) or 〜ときはいつも. Often followed by a feeling or memory: 思い出す, 感じる, 感動する.

JLPT N3 tips

On the exam

  • A recurring event + a reaction each time = たびに. Check that the verb before the blank is in dictionary form.
  • Distractors: うちに, とたんに, 最中に. Only たびに expresses repetition.
  • A noun before the blank needs の; options without の are wrong.

Frequently asked questions

What does 〜たびに / 〜度に mean?

Every time… / whenever…. 〜たびに means that each time one thing happens, another follows: この歌を聞くたびに学生時代を思い出す = every time I hear this song, I remember my school days. The verb before たびに is always in dictionary form, even when talking about the past.

How do you form 〜たびに / 〜度に?

Verb (dictionary form) + たびに / Noun (event) + の + たびに / Written: 〜度に. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

When is 〜たびに / 〜度に used?

Conversation and writing, memories, habits, complaints (会うたびに文句を言う). Nouns of events take の: 旅行のたびに.

What is the difference between 〜たびに / 〜度に and 〜と (whenever)?

"When X, Y always happens" as a natural consequence. たびに stresses each separate occasion.

What is the difference between 〜たびに / 〜度に and 〜ときはいつも?

Same idea in plain words; less compact.

What is a common mistake with 〜たびに / 〜度に?

Wrong: この歌を聞いたたびに Right: この歌を聞くたびに Always the dictionary form before たびに.

Quick check

1 / 5Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5

母は、私が電話する（　　）、「ちゃんと食べてる？」と聞く。