Posted inN3 Grammar

Mastering Japanese Grammar: Understanding 「ずつ」 (zutsu)

Posted inN3 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

ずつ indicates that a quantity, amount, or action is distributed or happens repeatedly in equal or specified increments.

🎯 Primary Function

To express distribution (“each,” “at a time”) or gradual progression (“little by little,” “one by one”).

📋 Grammar Structure

[Quantity/Counter] ずつ [Noun] ずつ (less common, implies “each of the noun”) [Adverb/Expression of Gradualness] ずつ

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Used in formal explanations or instructions where specifying distribution is necessary.

😊 Informal Situations

Common in daily conversations when discussing sharing or repeated actions.

✍️ Written Language

Frequently used in instructions, descriptions, and narratives.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Very common in everyday speech.

💡 Common Applications

Distributing items or resources
Used after a quantity or counter to show that each person or unit receives that specific amount.
Example: 子供たちに飴を三つずつあげた。 (Kodomo-tachi ni ame o mittsu zutsu ageta.) – I gave the children three candies each.
Indicating a repeated action or process
Used with verbs or quantities to show something happens in increments or repeatedly at a certain rate.
Example: 毎日漢字を五つずつ覚えています。 (Mainichi kanji o itsutsu zutsu oboete imasu.) – I memorize five kanji every day.
Showing gradual change or progression
Often used with adverbs like 少し (sukoshi) or words indicating gradualness to emphasize slow progress.
Example: 日本語が少しずつ上手になってきた。 (Nihongo ga sukoshi zutsu jouzu ni natte kita.) – My Japanese has gradually gotten better.
📊
Frequency
Very common in both spoken and written Japanese.
🎚️
Difficulty
Relatively easy to understand, but requires practice with counters and quantities.
Example Sentences
参加者には資料が二部ずつ配られました。
Participants were given two copies of the materials each.
宿題は毎日３０分ずつやりましょう。
Let’s do homework for 30 minutes each day.
貯金箱に１００円玉を一つずつ入れています。
I am putting 100-yen coins into the piggy bank one by one.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Placement of 「ずつ」
「ずつ」 usually follows the quantity or item being distributed or repeated. It modifies the action or state.
Example: 一人ずつ話す (Ichiri zutsu hanasu – speak one by one), リンゴを二つずつ (ringo o futatsu zutsu – two apples each).
Used with counters and quantities
Most commonly follows general counters (〜つ, 〜人, 〜個, 〜冊, etc.) or specific quantity words (少し, たくさん – though たくさんずつ is less common and might imply “large amounts each time”).
Example: 五つずつ (itsutsu zutsu), 一人ずつ (hitori zutsu), 少しずつ (sukoshi zutsu).

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using 「ずつ」 directly after a specific noun without a quantity/counter.
✅ Add a quantity or counter before 「ずつ」.
「ペンずつ」 is incorrect. It should be 「ペンを一本ずつ」 (ippon zutsu) or 「ペンを数本ずつ」 (suuhon zutsu).
❌ Confusing with similar distributive expressions (if any, though ずつ is quite unique).
✅ Understand the specific nuance of distributing an amount or repetition.
「ずつ」 specifically marks the *quantity* or *rate* of distribution/repetition per unit or action.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral. Can be used in both polite and casual contexts.
Social Situations: Frequently used when discussing sharing, dividing, distributing tasks, or describing gradual progress in various social situations.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese.

🔍 Subtle Differences

undefined
undefined
When to use: undefined
undefined
undefined
When to use: undefined
undefined
undefined
When to use: undefined

📝 Conjugation Notes

「ずつ」 is an adverbial particle and does not conjugate.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

「ずつ」 is pronounced “zu-tsu”. The “tsu” is a voiceless alveolar affricate. Pay attention to the slight pause before the “tsu” sound.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of 「ずつ」 as meaning “per” or “each time/unit”. Visualize items being given out one by one, or steps being taken gradually.

Practice Exercises
子供たちにキャンディーを＿＿あげた。
一つ
一つに
一つずつ
一つから
毎日、日本語の単語を＿＿覚えています。
たくさん
少しずつ
多く
一度に
7 Views
Tags:
Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet. Why don’t you start the discussion?

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *