〜たびに
たびに
every time
A たびに、B means 'every time A happens, B happens too'. A is something that happens again and again, and B follows it each time. B is often a feeling, a memory or a change that comes naturally (思い出す, 緊張する, 〜なる), but it can also be something the speaker always does on that occasion. It is not used for one single occasion; for that, use とき.
この写真を見るたびに、高校のころを思い出します。
このしゃしんをみるたびに、こうこうのころをおもいだします。
Every time I look at this photo, I remember my high school days.
Structure
Verb dictionary form + たびに (会うたびに, 行くたびに). Noun + の + たびに (旅行のたびに, 出張のたびに); the noun is an event that happens again and again. そのたびに means 'each time that happens'. The verb stays in the dictionary form even when the whole sentence is about the past, and the tense is shown at the end of the sentence. In writing, に is sometimes left out (会うたび).
Examples
8
旅行のたびに、家族にお土産を買っている。
りょこうのたびに、かぞくにおみやげをかっている。
I buy souvenirs for my family every time I travel.
子どものころ、祖母の家に行くたびに、お菓子をもらいました。
こどものころ、そぼのいえにいくたびに、おかしをもらいました。
When I was a child, every time I went to my grandmother's house, I got sweets.
田中さんは会うたびに、髪の色が違う。
たなかさんはあうたびに、かみのいろがちがう。
Every time I meet Mr. Tanaka, his hair is a different color.
リンさんは日本へ来るたびに、京都へ行くんですか。
リンさんはにほんへくるたびに、きょうとへいくんですか。
Does Linh go to Kyoto every time she comes to Japan?
テストのたびに緊張して、よく眠れません。
テストのたびにきんちょうして、よくねむれません。
Every time there is a test, I get nervous and can't sleep well.
弟はゲームで負けるたびに、泣いていた。
おとうとはゲームでまけるたびに、ないていた。
My younger brother used to cry every time he lost a game.
新しい言葉を覚えるたびに、ノートに書くようにしています。
あたらしいことばをおぼえるたびに、ノートにかくようにしています。
Every time I learn a new word, I make a point of writing it in my notebook.
Common mistakes
3
- Forgetting の after a noun. 旅行たびに is wrong; say 旅行のたびに. A verb joins directly in the dictionary form: 旅行するたびに.
- Using たびに for one single occasion. 今度京都へ行くたびに、お寺を見ます is wrong, because this next trip happens only once. Use とき: 今度京都へ行くとき、お寺を見るつもりです.
- Putting the verb in the た-form or the ます-stem. Even about the past, the verb before たびに is normally in the dictionary form: 行ったたびに → 行くたびに, 行きたびに → 行くたびに. The past tense goes at the end: 公園へ行くたびに、雨が降りました (Every time I went to the park, it rained).
How it's different from similar grammar
2
- とき (when)
- とき names one point in time, so it can be used for a single occasion: 去年北海道へ行ったとき、スキーをしました (When I went to Hokkaido last year, I went skiing). たびに needs something that happens again and again, and says that B happens every single time: 北海道へ行くたびに、スキーをします (Every time I go to Hokkaido, I go skiing). とき with いつも can also talk about repeated occasions (北海道へ行くときは、いつもスキーをします), but たびに puts more weight on 'each time'.
- ごとに (every / each)
- After a verb, both can mean 'every time', but たびに is much more common for this meaning. ごとに is mainly used with a number for a regular interval, or with a noun for 'each one': 3時間ごとに薬を飲む (take medicine every three hours), クラスごとに写真を撮る (take a photo of each class). たびに cannot be used for an interval: 3時間のたびに is wrong. Also, a noun takes の before たびに (出張のたびに), but not before ごとに (クラスごとに).
How this shows up on the JLPT
In N3 grammar questions, たびに is often a choice next to とき, ついでに, とたんに and うちに. Look for two signs: the first half is something that happens many times, and the main clause is a feeling, a change or a habit that follows each time. If the sentence is about one occasion (昨日, 今度), たびに is wrong. Also check the form: dictionary form or noun + の. In sentence-building questions, remember the order noun + の + たびに. In reading, そのたびに at the start of a sentence means 'each time that happened', so find what その points to.
Quick check (3 questions)
Choose the word that fits the blank: この歌を聞く__、国の友だちのことを思い出す。
このうたをきく__、くにのともだちのことをおもいだす。
Which sentence is correct?
Choose the word that fits the blank: 昨日、図書館で先生に会った__、借りていた本を返しました。
きのう、としょかんでせんせいにあった__、かりていたほんをかえしました。
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