How to tell them apart
毎 attaches as a prefix to a time word to mean every single unit without exception (毎食, 毎時), whereas ごとに follows a number-plus-counter noun and marks recurring events at fixed intervals, often with gaps in between (三日ごとに). Use 毎 for things that happen each and every time a unit occurs; use ごとに when an action repeats after a set span, not necessarily every day or hour. Saying 毎三日 is wrong because 毎 already implies every unit and cannot take a number.
- 毎・まい Use 毎 when something happens at every single instance of a time unit, like every meal or every hour.
- ごとに Use ごとに when an action repeats at fixed intervals, such as every third day or after each lesson.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| 毎・まい mai | Each; per unit | N5 |
| ごとに gotoni | each time, at every interval | N4 |
毎・まい mai
Each; per unit
毎- means every or each when placed before a time period. It is used to talk about a repeated habit or schedule, as in 毎日, 毎週, and 毎年. It attaches directly to the front of time nouns without a particle, and the resulting word often works as an adverb of frequency. Note the special readings like 毎日 as まいにち and 毎年 as まいとし.
-
先週は毎日ピザを食べてたよ。
I ate pizza every day last week.
-
テレビは毎日見ますよ。
I watch television every day.
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.
-
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.
-
３週間ごとに会ってます。
We meet every three weeks.
毎・まい and ごとに are JLPT N5–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.