Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
“Every time,” “Whenever,” or “On the occasion of.”
🎯 Primary Function
To indicate that a specific action or state (B) occurs concurrently or immediately following every instance of an action or event (A). It emphasizes regularity and repetition.
📋 Grammar Structure
V (Plain Form / Dictionary Form) + たびに / Noun + のたびに
N/A (Adjectives typically precede a Noun + のたびに)
N/A (Adjectives typically precede a Noun + のたびに)
V (Plain Negative: ない形) + たびに
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in formal writing or presentations to state facts, statistics, or regular occurrences in a clear manner.
Informal Situations
Very common and natural in daily casual conversations.
Written Language
Commonly found in essays, articles, reports, and narratives.
Spoken Language
Frequently used in spoken Japanese to discuss habits, routines, and repeated experiences.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing Recurring Actions or Habits
Used to describe an action (B) that is consistently performed every single time a specific event (A) occurs.
Example: 海外に行くたびに、お土産を買います。
Describing Consistent Reactions/Feelings
Used when an event triggers an automatic, consistent emotional or physical response.
Example: 彼の冗談を聞くたびに、笑ってしまいます。
Stating General Truths or Regular Events
Used to express a phenomenon or occurrence that happens predictably with every instance of a condition.
Example: 季節が変わるたびに、体調を崩しやすい。
Frequency
High
Difficulty
Intermediate (JLPT N3)
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
旅に出るたびに、新しい発見があります。
Furigana: たびに、あたらしいはっけんがあります。
Romaji: Tabi ni deru tabi ni, atarashii hakken ga arimasu.
English: I make a new discovery every time I go on a trip.
Example #2
あの映画を見るたびに、必ず泣いてしまいます。
Furigana: あのえいがをみるたびに、かならずないてしまいます。
Romaji: Ano eiga o miru tabi ni, kanarazu naite shimaimasu.
English: Every time I watch that movie, I inevitably end up crying.
Example #3
この曲を聞くたびに、学生時代を思い出します。
Furigana: このきょくをきくたびに、がくせいじだいを思い出します。
Romaji: Kono kyoku o kiku tabi ni, gakusei jidai o omoidasimasu.
English: Every time I hear this song, I remember my student days.
Example #4
彼から電話があるたびに、緊張します。
Furigana: かれからでんわがあるたびに、きんちょうします。
Romaji: Kare kara denwa ga aru tabi ni, kinchō shimasu.
English: I get nervous every time he calls me.
Example #5
故郷に帰省するたびに、祖母が手料理を作ってくれます。
Furigana: こきょうにきせいするたびに、そぼがてりょうりをつくってくれます。
Romaji: Kokyō ni kisei suru tabi ni, sobo ga teryōri o tsukutte kuremasu.
English: Every time I return to my hometown, my grandmother cooks homemade meals for me.
Example #6
新しいプロジェクトが始まるたびに、気が引き締まります。
Furigana: あたらしいプロジェクトがはじまるたびに、きがひきしまります。
Romaji: Atarashii purojekuto ga hajimaru tabi ni, ki ga hikishimarimasu.
English: Every time a new project starts, I feel more focused and determined.
Example #7
彼女に会うたびに、少しずつ大人になっていると感じる。
Furigana: かのじょにあうたびに、すこしずつおとなになっているとかんじる。
Romaji: Kanojo ni au tabi ni, sukoshi zutsu otona ni natte iru to kanjiru.
English: Every time I see her, I feel like she is maturing little by little.
Example #8
この古いエアコンは、暑くなるたびに故障します。
Furigana: このふるいエアコンは、あつくなるたびにこしょうします。
Romaji: Kono furui eakon wa, atsuku naru tabi ni koshō shimasu.
English: This old air conditioner breaks down every time the weather gets hot.
Example #9
京都を訪問するたびに、新たな歴史に触れることができます。
Furigana: きょうとをほうもんするたびに、あらたなれきしにふれることができます。
Romaji: Kyōto o hōmon suru tabi ni, arata na rekishi ni fureru koto ga dekimasu.
English: Every time I visit Kyoto, I can learn about new history.
Example #10
練習するたびに、自分の弱点が明確になります。
Furigana: れんしゅうするたびに、じぶんのよわてんがめいかくになります。
Romaji: Renshū suru tabi ni, jibun no jakuten ga meikaku ni narimasu.
English: Every time I practice, my own weaknesses become clear.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Expresses Past Habits and Repetition
たびに is often used to describe past habits or repeated actions. Note that the verb before たびに (会う) remains in the dictionary form.
Example: 昔、父が私に会うたびに、本をくれた。
Implies 100% Correlation/Regularity
The pattern emphasizes a 100% correlation: B happens every single time A happens, implying strong regularity or predictability.
Example: 雨が降るたびに、必ず傘を忘れる。
Second Clause (B) Can Be Volitional or Non-Volitional
The second clause (B) can be a volitional action (taking notes) or a non-volitional state/reaction (crying, getting nervous).
Example: 彼は何かを学ぶたびに、メモを取る。
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ 食べたびに
✅ 食べるたびに
The verb preceding たびに should be in the dictionary form (plain non-past) to signify the recurring event itself, regardless of the overall sentence tense.
❌ 休みたびに
✅ 休みのたびに
When attaching たびに to a noun, the particle の is required to link them.
❌ 会ってくたびに (wrong usage of te-form)
✅ 会うたびに
The pattern requires the plain form (dictionary form) directly before たびに, not the te-form.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral. The overall politeness of the sentence is determined by the final predicate (e.g., uses of 〜ます, です).
Social Situations: Appropriate in all social contexts, from professional discussions to casual chats.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese pattern; no significant regional variations in meaning or usage.
🔍 Subtle Differences
〜たびに (tabi ni) vs. 〜ごとに (goto ni)
たびに is used for events or actions (e.g., seeing, visiting). ごとに is often used for numerical frequency, measurable units, or fixed intervals (e.g., 3日ごとに, 1メートルごとに).
When to use: Use たびに for general, recurring events or experiences. Use ごとに for specific, measurable frequency or unit-based repetition.
〜たびに (tabi ni) vs. 〜と (to)
〜と means “if A, then B” and implies a universal or very strong tendency. たびに specifically focuses on the repetition—B happens *every single instance* of A, emphasizing recurrence.
When to use: Use たびに when the focus is on the repetitive, habitual nature of the event. Use 〜と for general laws, mechanisms, or conditions.
📝 Conjugation Notes
The preceding verb must always be in the plain, non-past form (dictionary form). Nouns must be connected using the particle の (Noun + のたびに). Adjectives cannot directly precede たびに; they must modify a noun or be part of a clause ending in a verb/copula.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounce ‘たびに’ with a smooth flow. The pitch is relatively flat or slightly higher on ‘bi’. Ensure the preceding verb is clearly enunciated in its dictionary form.
🧠 Memory Tips
Relate the sound of ‘たび’ to 旅 (たび, journey/trip). Think: “Every time I go on a *trip* (旅), I buy a souvenir.” This helps remember the ‘every time’ meaning.
Other Grammar
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