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A2 particle #1,500 most common 12 min read

ずつ

zutsu Top 1,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips ずつ in 30 Seconds

Explanation ずつ in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just beginning to learn how to count things in Japanese using basic numbers and counters like 一つ (hitotsu), 二つ (futatsu), 一人 (hitori), and 二人 (futari). The particle ずつ is introduced as a simple way to say 'each' or 'one by one.' You will mostly use it in very basic, concrete situations, such as handing out objects to people or taking turns. For example, if you have a plate of cookies and you want to tell your friends to take one each, you say '一つずつどうぞ' (Please take one each). If you are organizing a game and need people to stand in pairs, you might say '二人ずつ' (two people each / two by two). At this stage, the most important rule to remember is that ずつ must be attached to a number word (a quantifier). You cannot attach it to a regular noun. You will also learn the incredibly useful phrase '少しずつ' (sukoshi zutsu), which means 'little by little.' This is a great phrase to use when talking about your Japanese studies: '日本語を少しずつ勉強します' (I study Japanese little by little). Mastering these basic combinations will give you a strong foundation for managing simple daily interactions and distributions in Japanese.

At the A2 level, your understanding of ずつ expands beyond simple physical distribution to include time, pacing, and slightly more complex sentence structures. You are now comfortable with a wider variety of counters (枚, 本, 冊, 杯) and can use ずつ to describe how actions are performed over time. For instance, instead of just saying 'I read a book,' you can say '毎日一ページずつ本を読みます' (I read a book one page at a time every day). This shows an ability to express regular, incremental habits. You will also use ずつ more frequently in shopping or dining scenarios, such as asking for items to be wrapped individually: '一つずつ包んでください' (Please wrap them one by one). At this level, you must pay close attention to the placement of ずつ in the sentence. It typically follows the object and its particle, acting as an adverb that modifies the verb. You will practice distinguishing between 'りんごを三個買いました' (I bought three apples) and 'りんごを三個ずつ買いました' (I bought three apples each/per person). This distinction is crucial for clear communication. The phrase '少しずつ' remains a staple, but you will use it in broader contexts, such as describing gradual changes in weather or personal improvement.

At the B1 level, you are expected to use ずつ to express more abstract concepts and complex logistical arrangements. You will encounter ずつ in professional or academic contexts, such as discussing project milestones, budget allocations, or systematic processes. For example, '問題を一つずつ解決していく必要があります' (We need to solve the problems one by one). You will also start to contrast ずつ with similar expressions like ごとに (gotoni - every/intervals) and おきに (okini - every other/skipping). Understanding the subtle differences between '一時間ずつ' (one hour each time) and '一時間ごとに' (every hour) is a key competency at this level. Furthermore, you will use ずつ in combination with passive or causative verbs to describe how things are distributed by others or how systems operate. Your vocabulary of quantifiers will expand to include percentages and fractions, allowing you to say things like '利益を半分ずつ分ける' (divide the profits in half each). The focus shifts from merely surviving daily interactions to accurately describing processes, rates, and proportional relationships, making your Japanese sound much more mature and precise.

At the B2 level, ずつ is fully integrated into your active vocabulary, and you use it intuitively to manage complex narratives and detailed instructions. You can effortlessly handle scenarios involving multiple variables, such as '各グループに資料を三部ずつ、計十五部配布してください' (Please distribute three copies of the materials to each group, for a total of fifteen copies). You are also sensitive to the nuances of pacing and gradual change expressed by ずつ. You might use it metaphorically to describe psychological or societal shifts, such as '社会の意識が少しずつ変化している' (Society's awareness is changing little by little). At this stage, you rarely make the mistake of attaching ずつ directly to a noun, and your use of appropriate counters is highly accurate. You can also comprehend and produce sentences where ずつ is followed by other particles for specific emphasis or structural necessity, such as '二人ずつのペアを作る' (make pairs of two people each) where ずつ is modified by の to connect to a noun. Your mastery of ずつ allows you to communicate with a high degree of precision, ensuring that your instructions, descriptions of processes, and explanations of distributions are perfectly clear to native speakers.

At the C1 level, your use of ずつ is sophisticated and highly nuanced, reflecting a deep understanding of Japanese rhythm and rhetorical structure. You employ ずつ not just for logistical clarity, but for stylistic effect. In written Japanese, you might use it to build tension or emphasize the slow, deliberate nature of an action: '彼は階段を一段、また一段と、ゆっくりずつ上っていった' (He climbed the stairs slowly, one step, then another). You are entirely comfortable with idiomatic and less common usages, and you can seamlessly integrate ずつ into complex, multi-clause sentences without losing track of the grammatical relationships. You understand the subtle emotional connotations that ずつ can carry—for instance, how '少しずつ' can convey a sense of persistent effort, patience, or even agonizing slowness depending on the context. You are also adept at using ずつ in formal business negotiations or legal contexts where precise allocation is critical, such as discussing equity splits or phased contract deliverables. Your command of the particle is indistinguishable from an educated native speaker, allowing you to manipulate pacing and distribution in your speech and writing with complete confidence.

At the C2 level, your comprehension and application of ずつ transcend basic grammar; you understand its historical context, its role in Japanese cultural philosophy, and its precise function in highly specialized or literary texts. You recognize how the concept of incremental progress (少しずつ) is deeply embedded in Japanese societal values, such as Kaizen (continuous improvement), and you can articulate these connections in fluent, academic Japanese. You can analyze classic literature or complex academic papers where ずつ is used to describe intricate scientific processes, historical demographic shifts, or subtle psychological developments. You are capable of playing with the syntax, perhaps using ずつ in unconventional but grammatically permissible ways for poetic or rhetorical impact. You can also engage in metalinguistic discussions about the particle, comparing its semantic boundaries with those of other distributive markers across different dialects or historical periods of the Japanese language. At this pinnacle of proficiency, ずつ is a fully mastered tool that you use with absolute precision, elegance, and cultural resonance, reflecting your comprehensive mastery of the Japanese language.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

ずつ in 30 Seconds

Means 'each', 'at a time', or 'by' (e.g., one by one).
Must always attach to a quantifier (number + counter) or '少し'.
Used for equal distribution (giving everyone the same amount).
Used for incremental actions (doing things step by step).

The Japanese particle ずつ (zutsu) is an essential grammatical tool that conveys the concept of equal distribution, repetition, or proportional allocation. When translated into English, it most commonly means 'each,' 'at a time,' or 'by' (as in 'one by one' or 'little by little'). Understanding how to use this particle is fundamental for anyone learning Japanese, as it appears constantly in everyday conversations, written instructions, and formal contexts. To fully grasp its meaning, you must understand that ずつ always attaches to a quantifier—a word that expresses an amount, number, or measurement. You cannot attach it directly to a regular noun like 'dog' or 'book'; instead, it must attach to the counter word associated with that noun, such as 'one animal' (一匹ずつ) or 'one book' (一冊ずつ). This structural rule is absolute and forms the backbone of its usage.

Equal Distribution: When distributing items among a group of people, ずつ ensures that everyone receives the exact same amount. For example, giving two apples to each person.

りんごを二つずつ配ります。

Incremental Action: It describes an action that happens in stages or small increments over time, rather than all at once. This is common when talking about progress or consumption.

毎日少しずつ勉強します。

Proportional Rate: It can express a rate or ratio, such as taking a certain amount of medicine per day or paying a specific amount of money per month.

毎月一万円ずつ貯金しています。

The psychological and cultural weight of ずつ is also significant. In Japanese society, harmony, fairness, and steady progress are highly valued concepts. The particle ずつ perfectly encapsulates these ideals. When a teacher hands out materials, saying '一枚ずつ取ってください' (Please take one sheet each), it reinforces order and fairness. When someone is recovering from an illness or learning a difficult skill, the phrase '少しずつ' (little by little) is offered as encouragement, emphasizing the philosophy of Kaizen (continuous, incremental improvement). This makes the particle not just a grammatical necessity, but a reflection of cultural attitudes toward patience and equity.

順番に一人ずつ話してください。

Furthermore, ずつ is incredibly versatile across different registers of speech. You will hear it used by children sharing candy ('一個ずつね'), by professionals discussing project milestones ('一歩ずつ進めましょう'), and by medical professionals giving instructions ('食後に二錠ずつ飲んでください'). The particle does not change its form regardless of the formality of the conversation, making it a reliable and constant element in your Japanese vocabulary toolkit.

ケーキを三等分して、一つずつ食べました。

Mastering ずつ requires practice with Japanese counter words, as the two are inextricably linked. You cannot say '車ずつ' (car each); you must say '一台ずつ' (one machine/vehicle each). Therefore, improving your use of ずつ will naturally improve your command of Japanese counters, creating a positive feedback loop in your language learning journey. This interconnectedness makes ずつ a powerful pivot point for advancing from beginner to intermediate Japanese.

Using ずつ correctly in a sentence relies on understanding its syntactic placement and its relationship with quantifiers and verbs. The fundamental formula for using this particle is: [Noun/Object] + [Particle like を/が] + [Number + Counter / Quantifier] + ずつ + [Verb]. Unlike English, where 'each' might appear at the end of a sentence ('Give them two apples each') or before the noun ('Give each person two apples'), Japanese maintains a strict structure where ずつ directly follows the quantity being distributed or incremented. This structure is incredibly consistent, which is great news for learners. Once you memorize the pattern, you can apply it to almost any situation involving distribution or pacing.

Basic Object Distribution: When distributing objects, the object is marked with を, followed by the quantity, then ずつ, and finally the verb of giving or taking.

子供たちにキャンディーを三個ずつあげました。

Time Increments: When an action is performed for a specific duration repeatedly, the time duration acts as the quantifier before ずつ.

毎日一時間ずつピアノを練習します。

Group Formation: When organizing people or things into groups of a certain size, the number of people/things is followed by ずつ.

生徒たちは五人ずつのグループに分かれました。

It is crucial to note that ずつ modifies the verb that follows it, describing *how* the action is performed. In the sentence 'ペンを一本ずつ買いました' (I bought pens one by one), the focus is on the manner of buying—perhaps buying one pen at a time over several days, or picking them up one by one at the store. If you simply wanted to say 'I bought one pen for each person,' you would need to specify the recipients: 'みんなにペンを一本ずつ買いました'. The presence of the recipient clarifies the distribution.

荷物を二箱ずつ運んでください。

Another common sentence pattern involves abstract quantities. The word 少し (sukoshi - a little) is the most frequent companion to ずつ in this category. '少しずつ' is an adverbial phrase meaning 'little by little' or 'gradually.' You will use this phrase constantly to describe processes that take time, such as learning a language, recovering from an illness, or changing a habit. '日本語が少しずつ上手になっています' (My Japanese is getting better little by little). This usage highlights the incremental nature of ずつ.

問題集を毎日三ページずつ解いています。

Finally, consider the pacing of actions. When giving instructions, ずつ is indispensable for ensuring safety and order. '階段を一段ずつ気をつけて降りてください' (Please carefully go down the stairs one step at a time). Here, the quantifier is 一段 (one step), and ずつ ensures the action is paced correctly. By mastering these sentence structures, you will significantly enhance your ability to communicate complex logistical and temporal concepts in Japanese with precision and natural flow.

The particle ずつ is ubiquitous in Japanese daily life, appearing in a wide array of contexts ranging from casual conversations to highly formal instructions. Because it deals with distribution, pacing, and increments, you will encounter it anywhere these concepts are relevant. One of the most common places you will hear ずつ is in commercial settings, particularly in stores and restaurants. When you are shopping, a clerk might ask how you want your items bagged, or when buying souvenirs, you might ask for individual bags for each item: '小分けの袋を一つずつもらえますか' (Can I get one small bag for each?). In a restaurant, when a group orders a shared dish, the server might bring small plates and say, 'お皿を一枚ずつお使いください' (Please use one plate each).

Medical Contexts: Pharmacies and doctors use ずつ constantly to explain dosages. It is critical for ensuring patients take the correct amount of medication at the correct intervals.

この薬は毎食後、一錠ずつ飲んでください。

Educational Settings: Teachers use ずつ to manage classroom activities, distribute materials, and organize students into groups, ensuring order and fairness.

プリントを前から一枚ずつ後ろに回してください。

Workplace and Business: In professional environments, ずつ is used to discuss project phases, budget allocations, and systematic progress, reflecting a methodical approach to work.

課題を一つずつ確実に解決していきましょう。

Another incredibly common scenario is in recipes and cooking instructions. Japanese recipes rely heavily on precise measurements and sequential steps. You will frequently see instructions like '卵を一個ずつ加える' (add the eggs one at a time) or '塩を少々ずつ振る' (sprinkle salt little by little). This ensures the ingredients are incorporated properly, demonstrating how ずつ controls the pacing of an action.

牛乳を少しずつ混ぜながら加熱します。

You will also hear ずつ in contexts involving crowd control or event management. When staff are guiding people into a venue, they might say '二列ずつお並びください' (Please line up in two rows) or '順番に一人ずつご案内します' (We will guide you one by one in order). This usage highlights the particle's role in maintaining order and preventing chaos.

エレベーターには四人ずつ乗ってください。

By paying attention to these real-world contexts, you will realize that ずつ is not just a theoretical grammar point, but a highly practical tool that Japanese speakers use to navigate the logistics of daily life. Whether it is ensuring everyone gets a fair share of a snack, managing the flow of people, or carefully following a recipe, ずつ is the particle that makes these actions clear and orderly.

While the concept of ずつ is relatively straightforward, English speakers often make specific structural mistakes when trying to use it in Japanese. These errors usually stem from direct translation or a misunderstanding of Japanese counter words. The most frequent and glaring mistake is attaching ずつ directly to a noun instead of a quantifier. Because English allows us to say 'each person' or 'each book,' learners often try to say '人ずつ' (hito zutsu) or '本ずつ' (hon zutsu). This is grammatically incorrect in Japanese. ずつ must always attach to a number + counter combination or a specific quantifier like 少し. You must say '一人ずつ' (hitori zutsu - one person each) or '一冊ずつ' (issatsu zutsu - one book each).

Missing the Counter: Incorrect: 学生ずつにプリントを配る。 Correct: 学生にプリントを一枚ずつ配る。 You must specify the quantity being distributed using the appropriate counter.

❌ 車ずつ確認する。 ⭕️ 車を一台ずつ確認する。

Confusing ずつ with 毎 (mai): Learners sometimes confuse ずつ with the prefix 毎 (every). While 'every day' is 毎日, 'one hour each day' is 毎日一時間ずつ. You cannot say 毎日ずつ.

❌ 毎日ずつ走る。 ⭕️ 毎日三キロずつ走る。

Misplacing the Particle: ずつ usually functions adverbially, modifying the verb. Placing it before the object particle (e.g., 一つずつを食べる) is unnatural. It should follow the object and its particle: りんごを一つずつ食べる。

❌ ケーキの二つずつを食べる。 ⭕️ ケーキを二つずつ食べる。

Another subtle mistake involves the logic of distribution. If you say '私たちは車を一台ずつ持っています' (We each have one car), it means every person in the group owns exactly one car. If you say '私たちは車を一台持っています' (We have one car), it implies the group shares a single car. Forgetting to use ずつ when you mean individual ownership or distribution completely changes the meaning of the sentence, often leading to confusion.

❌ 質問を人ずつ答える。 ⭕️ 質問に一人ずつ答える。

Finally, learners sometimes overuse ずつ when a simple plural or standard quantity would suffice. You only need ずつ when emphasizing the *equal distribution* or the *incremental nature* of the action. If you simply bought three apples, you say 'りんごを三個買いました'. You would only say 'りんごを三個ずつ買いました' if you bought three apples *per person* or *per day*. Understanding this distinction prevents redundant or confusing statements.

❌ ペンを三本ずつ持ってきた。(When you just brought 3 pens total) ⭕️ ペンを三本持ってきた。

By being mindful of these common pitfalls—especially the strict requirement to attach ずつ to a quantifier rather than a noun—you can quickly refine your usage and sound much more natural and precise in your Japanese communication.

In Japanese, there are several words and particles that express concepts similar to ずつ, such as distribution, intervals, and repetition. Understanding the nuances between these terms is crucial for intermediate and advanced learners. The most common points of confusion are with words like ごとに (gotoni), おきに (okini), and the prefix 毎 (mai). While they all deal with regular occurrences or distributions, their grammatical rules and specific meanings differ significantly.

ごとに (gotoni) - Every / Intervals: ごとに means 'every' or 'at intervals of.' Unlike ずつ, which focuses on the amount distributed, ごとに focuses on the trigger or the interval. '五分ごとに' means 'every five minutes' (an event happens when 5 minutes pass).

電車は十分ごとに来ます。(The train comes every 10 minutes.)

おきに (okini) - Intervals / Skipping: おきに means 'at intervals of' but specifically implies a gap or skipping. '一日おきに' means 'every other day' (skipping one day). This is fundamentally different from ずつ, which does not imply skipping.

一日おきにジムに通っています。(I go to the gym every other day.)

毎 (mai) - Every (Prefix): 毎 is a prefix meaning 'every,' used directly with time words (毎日, 毎週). You can combine 毎 with ずつ to express an amount per time period: '毎日一時間ずつ' (one hour each day).

毎月一冊ずつ本を読みます。(I read one book each month.)

Another related term is 宛 (ate), which is mostly used in formal or written contexts to mean 'per' or 'allocated to.' For example, '一人宛千円' (1,000 yen per person). However, 宛 is quite stiff and rarely used in spoken Japanese compared to the highly versatile ずつ. When deciding between these words, ask yourself what you are trying to emphasize. If you are emphasizing the *amount* each person gets or the *increment* of an action, use ずつ. If you are emphasizing the *timing* or *frequency* of an event, use ごとに or おきに.

グループごとにテーマが違います。(The theme is different for each group.)

It is also worth noting that ずつ can sometimes be translated simply as 'apiece' in English. 'These apples are 100 yen apiece' translates to 'このりんごは百円ずつです' or more commonly 'このりんごは一つ百円です'. In pricing, Japanese often drops the ずつ in favor of simply stating the unit and the price, though ずつ remains grammatically valid.

二人に三個ずつケーキを分けました。(I divided the cake, giving three pieces to each of the two people.)

By clearly distinguishing ずつ from its conceptual neighbors like ごとに and おきに, you will avoid common awkward phrasing and achieve a much higher level of precision in your Japanese expression. This nuanced understanding is a hallmark of an advanced speaker.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In some older or dialectal forms of Japanese, you might see ずつ written as づつ (using the character for 'dzu' instead of 'zu'). While ずつ is the standard modern spelling established by post-war orthography reforms, you will still occasionally see づつ in older books, specific brand names, or handwritten signs by older generations.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /zɯ.tsɯ/

US /zu.tsu/

Japanese is pitch-accented. ずつ is typically flat or takes the pitch of the word it attaches to. For example, in 少しずつ (su-KO-SHI-zu-tsu), the pitch drops after 'shi'.

Rhymes With

靴 (kutsu - shoes) 打つ (utsu - to hit) 持つ (motsu - to hold) 立つ (tatsu - to stand) 勝つ (katsu - to win) 待つ (matsu - to wait) 二つ (futatsu - two) 三つ (mittsu - three)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'tsu' as 'su' (saying 'zusu' instead of 'zutsu').
Elongating the final 'u' sound (saying 'zutsuuu').
Pausing between the counter and ずつ (saying 'hitotsu... zutsu'). They should be pronounced as a single fluid unit.
Pronouncing the 'z' as a 'j' (saying 'jutsu', which means 'technique').
Failing to unround the lips for the Japanese 'u' sound, making it sound too much like an English 'oo'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Very easy to read as it is always written in hiragana (ずつ). Occasionally seen as づつ in old texts.

Writing 2/5

Easy to write. The only difficulty is remembering not to write づつ in modern contexts.

Speaking 4/5

Requires mental agility to recall the correct counter word before attaching ずつ during fast conversation.

Listening 3/5

Easy to hear, but you must pay attention to the counter preceding it to understand exactly what is being distributed.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

一つ、二つ、三つ (General counters) 一人、二人 (People counters) 少し (A little) 枚、本、冊 (Specific counters) 毎日 (Every day)

Learn Next

ごとに (Every / intervals) おきに (Every other / skipping) それぞれ (Each / respectively) ずつに / ずつで (Advanced particle combinations) 宛 (Per / allocated to)

Advanced

次第に (Gradually) 徐々に (Slowly/gradually) 均等に (Equally) 割り当てる (To allocate) 分散する (To distribute/scatter)

Grammar to Know

Japanese Counters (助数詞)

ずつ MUST follow a counter. 一本ずつ (one long object each), 一枚ずつ (one flat object each).

Adverbial Modification

Noun + Particle + Quantifier + ずつ + Verb. The ずつ phrase acts as an adverb modifying the verb. りんごを一つずつ食べる。

Noun Modification with の

To modify a noun with a ずつ phrase, use の. 三人ずつのグループ (Groups of three people each).

ごとに vs ずつ

ごとに is for intervals (五分ごとに - every 5 mins). ずつ is for distributed amounts (五分ずつ - 5 mins each time).

少し as a Quantifier

少し functions as a quantifier in Japanese, which is why 少しずつ (little by little) is grammatically correct.

Examples by Level

りんごを一つずつください。

Please give me one apple each.

一つ (hitotsu) is the counter for general objects. ずつ means 'each'.

二人ずつ並んでください。

Please line up in pairs (two by two).

二人 (futari) is the counter for people. ずつ makes it 'two by two'.

少しずつ食べます。

I will eat it little by little.

少し (sukoshi) means 'a little'. 少しずつ is a set phrase for 'little by little'.

ケーキを三個ずつ買いました。

I bought three cakes each.

三個 (sanko) is the counter for small objects.

一日ずつ休みます。

I will take a day off one day at a time.

一日 (ichinichi) means one day.

一枚ずつ取ってください。

Please take one sheet each.

一枚 (ichimai) is the counter for flat objects like paper.

一歩ずつ歩きます。

I walk one step at a time.

一歩 (ippo) means one step.

一回ずつ練習します。

I practice one time each.

一回 (ikkai) means one time.

毎日一時間ずつ日本語を勉強します。

I study Japanese for one hour each day.

毎日 (every day) sets the frequency, 一時間ずつ sets the incremental amount.

薬を食後に二錠ずつ飲んでください。

Please take two pills each time after meals.

二錠 (nijou) is the counter for pills.

単語を十個ずつ覚えます。

I memorize ten vocabulary words at a time.

十個 (jukko) is ten items.

お皿を一枚ずつ洗います。

I wash the plates one by one.

Shows an action performed sequentially.

少しずつ日本語が上手になりました。

My Japanese became better little by little.

Used to describe gradual change or improvement.

子供たちにお菓子を一つずつ分けました。

I divided the sweets, giving one to each child.

分けました (wakemashita) means divided/shared.

荷物を二箱ずつ運びましょう。

Let's carry the luggage two boxes at a time.

二箱 (futahako) is the counter for boxes.

順番に一人ずつ話してください。

Please speak one person at a time in order.

順番に (junban ni) means in order.

給料から毎月五万円ずつ貯金しています。

I save 50,000 yen from my salary each month.

Combines a time period (毎月) with a specific monetary amount + ずつ.

問題を一つずつ確実に解決していくことが大切です。

It is important to reliably solve problems one by one.

確実に (kakujitsu ni) means reliably/steadily.

このプロジェクトは三つのフェーズに分けて、一ヶ月ずつ進めます。

We will divide this project into three phases and advance them one month at a time.

一ヶ月 (ikkagetsu) is the duration of one month.

参加者を四人ずつのグループに分けて、ディスカッションを行います。

We will divide the participants into groups of four each and hold a discussion.

四人ずつのグループ uses の to modify the noun 'group'.

体力が少しずつ回復してきているのを感じます。

I feel my physical strength recovering little by little.

回復してきている (kaifuku shite kite iru) shows an ongoing process of recovery.

新しいシステムへの移行を少しずつ進めています。

We are proceeding with the transition to the new system little by little.

移行 (ikou) means transition/migration.

各部署から代表者を二名ずつ選出してください。

Please elect two representatives from each department.

各 (kaku) means each, reinforcing the distribution.

階段を二段ずつ飛ばして駆け上がった。

I ran up the stairs, skipping two steps at a time.

二段ずつ飛ばして implies taking them in increments of two.

環境問題に対する人々の意識が、ここ数年で少しずつ変化してきた。

People's awareness of environmental issues has been changing little by little over the past few years.

Used to describe abstract, macro-level societal shifts.

予算を各プロジェクトに均等に百万円ずつ割り当てた。

We allocated a budget of one million yen equally to each project.

均等に (kintou ni) explicitly states 'equally', paired with ずつ.

複雑な理論も、基本的な概念から一つずつ紐解いていけば理解できる。

Even complex theories can be understood if you unravel them one by one from the basic concepts.

紐解いていく (himotoite iku) is a metaphorical use meaning to unravel or clarify.

リスクを最小限に抑えるため、投資先を少しずつ分散させている。

To minimize risk, I am gradually diversifying my investments.

分散させる (bunsan saseru) means to diversify/scatter.

会議の参加者には、事前に資料をデータで一部ずつ送信してあります。

I have sent one copy of the materials as data to each meeting participant in advance.

一部 (ichibu) is the counter for copies of documents.

長年の努力が実を結び、目標に一歩ずつ近づいている実感がある。

My years of effort are bearing fruit, and I have the real feeling of getting closer to my goal step by step.

一歩ずつ近づく is a common idiom for steady progress.

このソフトウェアは、ユーザーのフィードバックを受けて少しずつ改良を重ねてきた。

This software has undergone repeated improvements little by little based on user feedback.

改良を重ねる (kairyou o kasaneru) means to make repeated improvements.

交渉は難航したが、お互いに少しずつ譲歩することで合意に至った。

The negotiations were difficult, but we reached an agreement by both sides making concessions little by little.

譲歩する (jouho suru) means to concede or compromise.

歴史の歯車は、誰にも気づかれないほどゆっくりと、しかし確実に一目盛りずつ動いていた。

The gears of history were moving, so slowly that no one noticed, but reliably one notch at a time.

Highly literary and metaphorical use of ずつ to describe the passage of time/history.

膨大なデータを前に途方に暮れたが、一行ずつ丹念に読み解くほかに道はなかった。

I was at a loss before the massive amount of data, but there was no other way than to carefully decipher it line by line.

一行ずつ (ichigyou zutsu) means line by line. 丹念に (tannen ni) means carefully/painstakingly.

両国の関係は、度重なる対話を通じて薄紙を剥ぐように少しずつ改善に向かっている。

Through repeated dialogue, the relationship between the two countries is heading toward improvement little by little, like peeling off thin layers of paper.

薄紙を剥ぐように (usugami o hagu you ni) is an idiom meaning 'very gradually'.

芸術家は、キャンバスに絵の具を一層ずつ重ねることで、深みのある色彩を生み出した。

The artist created deep colors by layering paint on the canvas one layer at a time.

一層ずつ (issou zutsu) means one layer at a time.

組織の風土改革は一朝一夕にはいかない。小さな成功体験を一つずつ積み上げていくしかないのだ。

Reforming corporate culture doesn't happen overnight. We have no choice but to accumulate small success experiences one by one.

積み上げていく (tsumiagete iku) means to pile up or accumulate.

彼の記憶は、まるで古い写真が色褪せるように、一日ずつ確実に失われていった。

His memories were reliably being lost day by day, just like an old photograph fading.

一日ずつ (ichinichi zutsu) emphasizes the daily, incremental nature of the loss.

新興企業は、既存の巨大企業のシェアをパーセント単位で少しずつ、しかし執拗に奪っていった。

The startup took market share from the existing giant corporations little by little in percentage points, but relentlessly.

パーセント単位で (percent tan'i de) means in units of percentages.

老練な職人は、木材の性質を見極めながら、鉋でミクロン単位の削り屑を一枚ずつ出していく。

The veteran craftsman, assessing the nature of the wood, produces shavings at the micron level one by one with his plane.

一枚ずつ is used here for the incredibly thin wood shavings.

言語の変遷というものは、世代を跨ぐごとに微細な音声的特徴が一つずつ脱落し、あるいは付加されることで進行する。

The transition of language progresses as minute phonetic features are dropped or added one by one across generations.

Academic context describing linguistic evolution.

宇宙の膨張は、我々の日常的な感覚からすれば無に等しいが、天文学的なスケールにおいては一秒ずつ確実に空間を引き伸ばしている。

The expansion of the universe is practically nothing from our daily senses, but on an astronomical scale, it is reliably stretching space second by second.

一秒ずつ (ichibyou zutsu) emphasizes the continuous, relentless nature of the expansion.

その作家の文体は、読者の無意識下に特定の感情の種を一つずつ植え付け、最終章で一気に開花させるという精緻な計算に基づいている。

The author's writing style is based on precise calculation: planting seeds of specific emotions one by one in the reader's subconscious, and making them bloom all at once in the final chapter.

Metaphorical use of ずつ to describe a sophisticated literary technique.

細胞の老化メカニズムを解明するためには、テロメアが細胞分裂のたびに塩基対をいくつずつ失っていくのかを厳密に測定する必要がある。

To elucidate the mechanism of cellular aging, it is necessary to strictly measure exactly how many base pairs the telomeres lose each time a cell divides.

いくつずつ (ikutsu zutsu) asks 'how many at a time' in a highly technical context.

伝統芸能の継承は、師匠から弟子へ、暗黙知という名の形なき遺産を、途方もない時間をかけて一滴ずつ移し替えるような作業である。

The succession of traditional performing arts is a task like transferring a formless legacy called tacit knowledge from master to disciple, one drop at a time, over a tremendous amount of time.

一滴ずつ (itteki zutsu - one drop at a time) is a powerful metaphor for slow, careful transmission.

経済制裁の効果は即座に表れるものではなく、対象国の産業基盤を真綿で首を絞めるように少しずつ、しかし不可逆的に破壊していく。

The effects of economic sanctions do not appear immediately; they destroy the target country's industrial base little by little, but irreversibly, like strangling someone with silk floss.

Combines 少しずつ with a vivid, formal idiom (真綿で首を絞めるように).

法案の審議において、野党は条文の解釈を巡って一つずつ執拗に疑義を呈し、議事の進行を徹底的に遅滞させた。

In the deliberation of the bill, the opposition party relentlessly raised doubts about the interpretation of the articles one by one, thoroughly delaying the proceedings.

Describes a deliberate, methodical political strategy.

人間の自我というものは、幼少期からの無数の経験が、まるで地層のように一枚ずつ堆積することで形成される、極めて脆弱かつ堅牢な構造物である。

The human ego is an extremely fragile yet robust structure formed by the accumulation of countless experiences from childhood, piling up one layer at a time like geological strata.

一枚ずつ is used metaphorically for layers of experience (strata).

Common Collocations

一つずつ (hitotsu zutsu)

少しずつ (sukoshi zutsu)

一人ずつ (hitori zutsu)

一枚ずつ (ichimai zutsu)

一歩ずつ (ippo zutsu)

一回ずつ (ikkai zutsu)

一日ずつ (ichinichi zutsu)

二人ずつ (futari zutsu)

半分ずつ (hanbun zutsu)

一個ずつ (ikko zutsu)

Common Phrases

少しずつ良くなる

— To get better little by little. Often used for health recovery or skill improvement.

風邪が少しずつ良くなっています。

一つずつ片付ける

— To deal with things one by one. Used for chores, problems, or tasks.

仕事を一つずつ片付けましょう。

順番に一人ずつ

— One person at a time in order. Very common instruction in classrooms or waiting lines.

順番に一人ずつお入りください。

一歩ずつ進む

— To advance step by step. Used literally for walking or metaphorically for life goals.

夢に向かって一歩ずつ進む。

半分ずつにする

— To split something fifty-fifty. Common when sharing food or costs.

このケーキ、半分ずつにしよう。

毎日少しずつ

— A little bit every day. The core philosophy of consistent effort.

毎日少しずつ単語を覚える。

一枚ずつめくる

— To turn pages one by one.

カレンダーを一枚ずつめくる。

二つずつに分ける

— To divide into groups of two.

生徒を二つずつに分けてください。

一文字ずつ

— Character by character / letter by letter.

一文字ずつ丁寧に書く。

一口ずつ

— Bite by bite / sip by sip.

熱いから一口ずつ飲んでね。

Often Confused With

ずつ vs ごとに (gotoni)

ごとに means 'every' (interval). ずつ means 'each' (amount). 1時間ごとに = every 1 hour. 1時間ずつ = 1 hour each time.

ずつ vs おきに (okini)

おきに means 'every other' or 'skipping'. 1日おきに = every other day. 1日ずつ = one day at a time.

ずつ vs 毎 (mai)

毎 is a prefix meaning 'every'. 毎日 = every day. You cannot say 毎日ずつ. You must say 毎日1時間ずつ.

Idioms & Expressions

"薄紙を剥ぐように（少しずつ）"

— Like peeling off thin paper. Used to describe a very slow, gradual process, especially recovery from an illness.

病気が薄紙を剥ぐように少しずつ良くなってきた。

Formal/Literary

"真綿で首を絞めるように（少しずつ）"

— Like strangling someone with silk floss. Describes a slow, agonizing, and inescapable worsening of a situation.

借金が真綿で首を絞めるように少しずつ彼を苦しめた。

Formal/Literary

"一歩ずつ着実に"

— Steadily, step by step. A common motivational phrase in business or education.

目標に向けて一歩ずつ着実に進んでいきましょう。

Neutral/Business

"一つずつ潰していく"

— To crush/eliminate things one by one. Used when systematically solving problems, eliminating bugs, or defeating opponents.

バグを一つずつ潰していく作業が続く。

Casual/Business

"少しずつでも前に"

— Even if it's little by little, move forward. A phrase of encouragement.

焦らなくていい。少しずつでも前に進もう。

Neutral/Conversational

"一人ずつ血祭りにあげる"

— To slaughter them one by one. A dramatic, violent idiom often found in fiction, manga, or historical dramas.

敵を一人ずつ血祭りにあげてやる。

Slang/Fiction

"一つずつ紐解く"

— To unravel one by one. Used when explaining complex mysteries, theories, or histories.

事件の真相を一つずつ紐解いていく。

Formal/Written

"一皮ずつむける"

— To peel off one layer of skin at a time. Metaphor for gradually maturing or growing out of one's old self.

経験を積んで、一皮ずつむけて大人になる。

Neutral/Metaphorical

"一滴ずつ絞り出す"

— To squeeze out drop by drop. Metaphor for extreme effort, producing ideas, or extracting resources.

残りの力を一滴ずつ絞り出して走った。

Neutral/Metaphorical

"一寸ずつ"

— Inch by inch (literally, one 'sun' at a time). An older way to say little by little.

一寸ずつでいいから進み続けなさい。

Formal/Older

Easily Confused

ずつ vs ごとに

Both deal with repetition and numbers.

ごとに focuses on the trigger or interval. ずつ focuses on the amount distributed per trigger. '5分ごとに' means an event happens when 5 minutes pass. '5分ずつ' means an action is performed for a duration of 5 minutes each time.

五分ごとにベルが鳴る。(The bell rings every 5 minutes.) vs 五分ずつ話す。(Speak for 5 minutes each.)

ずつ vs おきに

Both deal with spacing and numbers.

おきに implies a gap. '1日おきに' means you do it Monday, skip Tuesday, do it Wednesday. ずつ has no gap. '1日ずつ' means you handle things one day at a time sequentially.

一日おきに薬を飲む。(Take medicine every other day.)

ずつ vs それぞれ

Both can translate to 'each'.

それぞれ is a pronoun/adverb referring to individual items or people having distinct characteristics. ずつ is a particle defining a distributed quantity.

それぞれ意見が違う。(Each has a different opinion.) vs 一つずつ意見を言う。(Say opinions one by one.)

ずつ vs ずつに

Learners wonder if に is needed.

ずつ is usually enough on its own to modify a verb. ずつに is only used when the verb specifically requires に, such as 分ける (to divide into).

二つずつに分ける。(Divide into groups of two.)

ずつ vs づつ

Looks identical in pronunciation.

づつ is simply the old, pre-WWII spelling of ずつ. They mean the exact same thing, but づつ is considered incorrect in modern standard Japanese orthography.

Modern: 少しずつ. Old: 少しづつ.

Sentence Patterns

[Number+Counter] + ずつ + ください

一つずつください。(Please give me one each.)

[Noun] を [Number+Counter] + ずつ + [Verb]

ケーキを二つずつ食べました。(We ate two cakes each.)

少しずつ + [Verb]

少しずつわかってきました。(I have come to understand it little by little.)

[Time Period] + [Number+Counter] + ずつ + [Verb]

毎日一時間ずつ勉強します。(I study for one hour each day.)

[Number+Counter] + ずつ + の + [Noun]

四人ずつのチームを作ります。(We will make teams of four people each.)

[Noun] に [Number+Counter] + ずつ + [Verb]

各クラスにプリントを三十枚ずつ配る。(Distribute 30 handouts to each class.)

[Noun] を [Number+Counter] + ずつ + [Verb-te form] + いく

問題を一つずつ解決していく。(Go about solving the problems one by one.)

[Metaphorical Counter] + ずつ + [Verb]

記憶が一日ずつ薄れていく。(Memories fade day by day.)

Word Family

ごと (goto - every)

おき (oki - intervals)

それぞれ (sorezore - respectively)

ずつに (zutsu ni - into increments of)

ずつで (zutsu de - by increments of)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely Common (Top 500 words/particles)

Common Mistakes

学生ずつに本を配る。 → 学生に本を一冊ずつ配る。
You cannot attach ずつ directly to the noun 学生 (student). You must use the counter for the object being distributed (一冊 - one book) or the counter for people (一人 - one person).
毎日ずつ日本語を勉強します。 → 毎日少しずつ日本語を勉強します。
毎日 (every day) is a frequency, not a distributed quantity. You must specify the amount being distributed each day, such as 少し (a little) or 一時間 (one hour), before ずつ.
ケーキの二つずつを食べます。 → ケーキを二つずつ食べます。
ずつ modifies the verb, so it should follow the object and its particle (を). Using の before the counter + ずつ in this context is unnatural.
五分ずつ電車が来ます。 → 五分ごとに電車が来ます。
When talking about an interval or frequency (something happening every 5 minutes), you must use ごとに. ずつ means doing something for a duration of 5 minutes each time.
少しづつ進む。 → 少しずつ進む。
While づつ is the historical spelling, modern Japanese orthography requires ずつ. Writing づつ is considered a spelling error in modern contexts.

Tips

The Golden Rule of ずつ

Never attach ずつ directly to a noun. Always find the correct counter word first. If you want to say 'each car', you must use the counter for machines (台) and say 一台ずつ, not 車ずつ.

Master 'Sukoshi Zutsu'

If you only remember one phrase from this lesson, make it 少しずつ (sukoshi zutsu - little by little). It is incredibly versatile and makes your Japanese sound very natural when describing progress.

Fluid Pronunciation

Do not pause before ずつ. When saying 一人ずつ (hitori zutsu), it should flow as a single, connected word. Pausing makes it sound robotic.

Modern Spelling

Always write ずつ with 'zu' (ず), not 'dzu' (づ). While you might see づつ in old texts, using it in modern writing looks like a spelling error.

Listen for the Counter

When you hear ずつ, the most important information is the word right before it. That word tells you exactly how much is being distributed or paced.

Splitting the Bill

When eating out with friends, use ずつ to suggest splitting the cost. '半分ずつにしよう' (Let's split it half and half) or '二千円ずつ払おう' (Let's pay 2,000 yen each).

Modifying Nouns

Remember that ずつ is an adverbial particle. If you need it to modify a noun (like 'a team of 5 each'), you must add の: 五人ずつのチーム.

The Spirit of Kaizen

Using ずつ shows an appreciation for steady, incremental progress. Saying '一歩ずつ頑張ります' (I will do my best step by step) is a highly respected attitude in Japan.

Avoid 'Mainichi Zutsu'

Never say 毎日ずつ. If you want to express a daily increment, put the amount between 毎日 and ずつ: 毎日[Amount]ずつ.

Medical Instructions

If you visit a doctor in Japan, listen carefully for ずつ. '一錠ずつ' means one pill at a time. Misunderstanding this can lead to taking the wrong dosage!

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a ZOO where animals are fed TWO at a time. ZOO-TWO sounds like ZUTSU. 'Feed the animals in the ZOO, TWO at a time (ZUTSU)!'

Visual Association

Visualize a person dealing a deck of cards. As they flick each card to a player, they make a 'zt, zt, zt' sound. That repetitive, distributing action is exactly what ずつ does.

Word Web

ずつ (zutsu) Distribution Counters (一つ, 一人) 少し (sukoshi - a little) Each At a time Repetition Fairness

Challenge

Next time you eat a meal with multiple pieces (like grapes, sushi, or fries), say '一つずつ食べます' (I eat them one by one) in your head every time you take a bite.

Word Origin

The particle ずつ evolved from Old Japanese. It is believed to be related to the repetition of the sound 'tsu', which was an old genitive or connective particle, combined with a voiced consonant to indicate distribution. In historical texts (like the Man'yoshu), it appeared in forms closer to 'tsutsu' (which survives today as a different particle meaning 'while doing'). Over centuries, the phonetic shift led to the modern 'zutsu' specifically for distribution.

Original meaning: Originally, it conveyed a sense of continuous, repetitive action or state, which naturally evolved into the concept of doing something 'one unit at a time' repeatedly.

Japonic -> Japanese -> Particles (Joshi)

Cultural Context

There are no specific cultural sensitivities or offensive connotations associated with ずつ. It is a completely neutral, functional particle.

English speakers often default to 'all at once' or bulk actions, whereas Japanese communication often emphasizes the step-by-step process. English uses 'each' flexibly (before or after nouns), making the strict 'Counter + ずつ' rule feel rigid at first.

The concept of 'Kaizen' (改善), famously used by Toyota, relies heavily on the philosophy of '少しずつ' (improving little by little). Many Japanese pop songs feature the lyric '少しずつ' to describe falling in love or getting over a heartbreak. In traditional Japanese folktales, magical tasks often require the hero to do something '一つずつ' (one by one) to prove their patience.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Classroom Management

一枚ずつ回す (pass one sheet each)
三人ずつのグループ (groups of three)
順番に一人ずつ (one by one in order)
一つずつ答える (answer one by one)

Medical Instructions

一錠ずつ飲む (take one pill each time)
食後に二つずつ (two each after meals)
少しずつ飲む (drink little by little)
一日一回ずつ (once each day)

Shopping and Dining

一つずつ包む (wrap individually)
半分ずつ払う (split the bill in half)
一個ずつください (give me one of each)
小皿を一枚ずつ (one small plate each)

Project Management

一つずつ解決する (solve one by one)
一歩ずつ進める (advance step by step)
予算を半分ずつ (split the budget in half)
毎日少しずつ (a little bit every day)

Cooking and Recipes

卵を一個ずつ (eggs one at a time)
少しずつ加える (add little by little)
塩を少々ずつ (salt a little at a time)
二等分ずつ (divide into two equal parts each)

Conversation Starters

"日本語の勉強は、毎日少しずつやっていますか？ (Do you study Japanese a little bit every day?)"

"好きな食べ物は、一気に食べますか？それとも少しずつ食べますか？ (Do you eat your favorite food all at once, or little by little?)"

"仕事や宿題は、一つずつ片付けるタイプですか？ (Are you the type to finish work or homework one by one?)"

"友達とご飯に行くとき、お金は半分ずつ払いますか？ (When you go eat with friends, do you split the bill in half?)"

"新しいことを始めるとき、一歩ずつ進むのが好きですか？ (When starting something new, do you like to advance step by step?)"

Journal Prompts

毎日少しずつ続けている習慣について書いてください。(Write about a habit you continue doing a little bit every day.)

大きな問題を一つずつ解決した経験について教えてください。(Tell me about an experience where you solved a big problem one piece at a time.)

もし百万円をもらったら、少しずつ使いますか？一気に使いますか？(If you received 1 million yen, would you spend it little by little or all at once?)

日本語の単語を毎日何個ずつ覚えたいですか？その理由も書いてください。(How many Japanese words do you want to memorize each day? Write the reason too.)

「一歩ずつ進む」という言葉について、あなたの考えを書いてください。(Write your thoughts on the phrase 'advance step by step'.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, you cannot. ずつ must always attach to a quantifier (a number + counter) or a quantitative word like 少し or 半分. Saying '人ずつ' (person each) is grammatically incorrect. You must say '一人ずつ' (one person each).

ごとに indicates an interval or frequency ('every X'), while ずつ indicates the amount distributed or the increment ('X each time'). For example, '3日ごとに' means 'every 3 days' (an event happens). '3日ずつ' means '3 days at a time' (e.g., extending a deadline by 3 days each time).

づつ is the historical spelling of ずつ. After World War II, the Japanese government reformed the spelling system, and ずつ became the official standard. You might still see づつ in old books, specific brand names, or written by older people, but you should always write ずつ.

No, this is a very common mistake. 毎日 already means 'every day'. If you want to say 'a little bit every day', you must add a quantifier before ずつ, such as '毎日少しずつ' (a little bit every day) or '毎日一時間ずつ' (one hour every day).

ずつ usually goes AFTER the object and its particle, attaching to the quantifier. The standard structure is: [Object] + を + [Quantifier] + ずつ + [Verb]. For example: りんごを一つずつ食べる (Eat apples one by one).

You use the particle の to connect the ずつ phrase to a noun. 'Three people each' is 三人ずつ. To say 'groups of three people', you say 三人ずつのグループ.

少し (a little) is the most common non-number word used with ずつ. Another common one is 半分 (half), as in 半分ずつ (half each). Both of these function as quantifiers in Japanese grammar, which is why they can take ずつ.

Yes, absolutely. It is very common when splitting bills or paying in installments. For example, '千円ずつ払いましょう' (Let's pay 1,000 yen each) or '毎月一万円ずつ返す' (Return 10,000 yen each month).

It is pronounced 'zu-tsu'. Make sure to pronounce the 'tsu' clearly, like the 'ts' in 'cats' followed by a short 'u'. Do not pronounce it as 'zu-su' or 'ju-tsu'.

ずつ is completely neutral. It does not change its form based on politeness. You can use it with your friends ('一個ずつ食べよう') or with your boss ('一部ずつご確認をお願いします').