How to tell them apart
ごとに marks every interval or every occurrence, as in 三日ごとに and 見るごとに. ずつ marks an equal amount per instance, as in 三冊ずつ and 三日ずつ for three days at a time. The contrast is every three days with ごとに versus three days each with ずつ, so 三日ずつ is grammatical but does not mean every three days.
- ごとに Use ごとに to mark every interval or each time something happens.
- ずつ Use ずつ to mark an equal share or amount done per person or per time.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| ごとに gotoni | each time, at every interval | N4 |
| ずつ zutsu | apiece; per instance; bit by bit | N4 |
ごとに gotoni
each time, at every interval
ごとに expresses that something happens at every interval or on each occurrence, like every three hours or each time you visit. It attaches directly to nouns for time or frequency such as ３時間ごとに or 日曜日ごとに, and to the dictionary form of verbs such as 会うごとに. Avoid adding extra particles like は before it, and use it only for regular repeating patterns rather than a single event.
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私は６時間ごとに薬を飲まないといけない。
I have to take my medicine every six hours.
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３週間ごとに会ってます。
We meet every three weeks.
ずつ zutsu
apiece; per instance; bit by bit
ずつ shows how a quantity is distributed across people, times, or steps. It means each share is the stated amount, as in 一人ずつ or 三つずつ, or that change happens gradually, as in 少しずつ. It attaches directly after a numeral plus counter, an amount, or a small-quantity word like 少し or ちょっと. It follows the quantity word and comes before the verb phrase it describes.
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少しずつ、漢字を学んでいます。
Little by little, I am learning kanji.
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少年たちは一人ずつ、私が何を読んでいるのか見に来た。
One by one, the boys came to see what I was reading.
ごとに and ずつ are both JLPT N4 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.