Mastering 「おきに」: How to Express Regular Intervals in Japanese (JLPT N4 Grammar)

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Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

The basic meaning is “every…” or “at intervals of…”. It indicates that an action or state occurs repeatedly after a specific amount of time, distance, or quantity.

🎯 Primary Function

Its primary function is to express the regular frequency or spacing of events or objects.

📋 Grammar Structure

Noun (indicating time, distance, or quantity) + おきに

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used in formal contexts, though often simpler structures might be preferred in very official documents.

😊 Informal Situations

Very common in informal conversation and everyday descriptions.

✍️ Written Language

Frequently used in written descriptions and instructions.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Common and natural in spoken Japanese.

💡 Common Applications

Time intervals
Expressing actions that happen every X minutes, hours, days, etc.
Example: バスは１０分おきに来ます。 (Basu wa juppun oki ni kimasu.) The bus comes every 10 minutes.
Distance intervals
Indicating that objects are placed or events occur every X meters, kilometers, etc.
Example: 道には５メートルおきに花が植えられています。 (Michi ni wa go-meitoru oki ni hana ga uerarete imasu.) Flowers are planted every 5 meters along the road.
Quantity/Number intervals
Describing something that appears every X pages, items, etc.
Example: この本は３ページおきに絵があります。 (Kono hon wa san-peiji oki ni e ga arimasu.) This book has a picture every 3 pages.
📊
Frequency
Fairly common, especially when describing schedules, patterns, or spatial arrangements.
🎚️
Difficulty
Relatively easy for JLPT N4 level learners. The main challenge is distinguishing it from similar grammar points like 「ごとに」 and 「たびに」.
Example Sentences
会議は１週間おきに開かれます。
The meeting is held every other week (at intervals of one week).
彼は３０分おきに水を飲みます。
He drinks water every 30 minutes.
駅前には１００メートルおきに信号があります。
There are traffic lights every 100 meters in front of the station.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Always follows a noun.
「おきに」 attaches directly to a noun that quantifies the interval (time, distance, or quantity). It cannot follow verbs or adjectives directly.
Example: ❌ 飲むおきに (incorrect) -> ３０分おきに水を飲みます。 (correct)
Expresses equal, fixed intervals.
「おきに」 strongly implies that the intervals are consistent and measured.
Example: １時間おきに薬を飲んでください。(Please take the medicine every hour.) – This means exactly 60 minutes between each dose.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using it with abstract concepts or non-specific events.
✅ Use 「ごとに」 or 「たびに」 instead for less concrete intervals or events.
「おきに」 is typically for measurable intervals. For things like “every country” or “every time I go”, 「ごとに」 or 「たびに」 are more appropriate.
❌ Confusing the interval with the event itself.
✅ Remember the noun before 「おきに」 defines the *space* or *time* between occurrences.
「３日おきに」 means *after* 3 days have passed (i.e., on the 4th day), not on the 3rd day itself.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral. Can be used in various politeness levels depending on the surrounding sentence structure.
Social Situations: Commonly used when describing schedules, instructions, or observations of patterns.
Regional Variations: Generally standard across Japan.

🔍 Subtle Differences

「おきに」 vs. 「ごとに」
「おきに」 specifies strict, equal, measurable intervals (time, distance, quantity). 「ごとに」 is broader and can mean “each” or “every time”, applicable to more abstract nouns or irregular intervals.
When to use: Use 「おきに」 for fixed, repeating intervals like “every hour”, “every 10 meters”. Use 「ごとに」 for “each country”, “every time I fail”, “every row”.
「おきに」 vs. 「たびに」
「おきに」 describes repetition at fixed intervals. 「たびに」 describes repetition *each time a specific action or event occurs*, which might not be at perfectly regular intervals.
When to use: Use 「おきに」 for scheduled or physically spaced regularity. Use 「たびに」 for “every time I read this book, I cry” or “every time I go to Kyoto, I visit the temple”.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

The pattern itself does not involve verb conjugation. It directly follows a noun.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounced /okini/. Pay attention to the individual sounds.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of 「おきに」 like setting things down (置く – oku) at regular intervals. You put the first thing down, then wait the interval, put the next thing down, wait, and so on.

Practice Exercises
バスは１０分＿＿＿来ます。
に
が
おきに
まで
窓から３メートル＿＿＿木が見えます。
おきに
に
と
へ

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