How to tell them apart
ごとに marks regular intervals at which something happens, like 三日ごとに (every third day), while ずつ marks an equal amount distributed or repeated each time, like 三冊ずつ (three books each). The test is whether you are counting intervals between events (ごとに) or dividing a quantity evenly across instances (ずつ). Saying 三日ずつ for a schedule is wrong because days are intervals, not portions handed out.
- ごとに Use ごとに when an event repeats at fixed intervals in time or space.
- ずつ Use ずつ when an equal quantity is distributed or repeated per instance.
| 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 attaches to a noun (or a plain-form verb, as in 終えるごとに) to show that something happens at each occurrence of that noun or verb, or at regular intervals such as ４年ごとに. It is neutral in register and common in both speech and writing.
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私は仕事を一つ終えるごとにリストの上でチェックする。
I check off each task on my list as soon as I complete it.
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私たちはアメリカにいたころ日曜日ごとに教会へ行った。
We went to church every Sunday when we were in America.
ずつ zutsu
apiece; per instance; bit by bit
ずつ attaches directly to a number, quantity word, or amount expression (一人, 一本, 三つ, 少し) and shows that the amount applies equally to each person or item, or that something happens in small, repeated portions. It follows nouns and quantity phrases as in the examples.
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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.
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少女は赤いバラと白いバラを１本ずつ私にもってきてくれた。
The girl brought me a red and a white rose.
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.