“〜goto ni vs 〜oki ni”: Every / Every Other [JLPT N4]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
「1時間ごとに休憩する」vs「1時間おきに休憩する」 — every 〜 vs every other 〜 (a difference that can double!).
“〜goto ni vs 〜oki ni”: Every / Every Other
This pair is the most easily confused N4 time/quantity expression: 〜ごとに = “every 〜, each 〜” (every unit, all included, none skipped): 「1時間ごとに休憩する」 (rest every hour → 1h, 2h, 3h…), 「一人ごとに意見を言う」 (each person gives an opinion); 〜おきに = “every other 〜” (with an interval, skipping): 「1時間おきに休憩する」 (rest every other hour → an actual 1-hour gap), 「2日おきに病院に行く」 (go to hospital every other 2 days → a 2-day gap). ⚠️ With the same number, ごとに is ‘every unit,' おきに is ‘with a gap' — the actual frequency can differ by a factor of two! ⚠️ Connection: time/quantity ＋ ごとに/おきに.
🧠 Core nuance: ごとに = each one (all included); おきに = every other (with a gap, skipping)
The core is all included (ごとに) vs with an interval (おきに): ① ごとに — ‘every 〜, each one,' every unit counts, none skipped (3時間ごとに薬を飲む = take medicine every 3 hours → 0h, 3h, 6h, 9h…; ページごとに = every page; 年を重ねるごとに = with each year), stressing all, each one; ② おきに — ‘every other 〜,' with a gap in between, skipping (3時間おきに = a 3-hour gap; 2日おきに病院 = go today → skip 2 days → go again; 5メートルおきに木 = a tree every 5 meters apart), stressing the gap, skipping. ⚠️ Core trap: with the same number, ‘1時間ごとに' (every hour) and ‘1時間おきに' (every other hour) differ in nuance — ごとに stresses ‘each unit consecutively,' おきに stresses ‘skipping a unit.' ⚠️ 「一日おきに」 = every other day (once every two days, not every day); for every day use 「毎日」 (✗ 毎日おきに). ⚠️ Connection: time/quantity (number) ＋ ごとに/おきに. ⚠️ Contrast with 「たびに」: ごとに = a regular interval/quantity, たびに = each time (when an event occurs: 会うたびに = each time we meet).
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| time/quantity ＋ ごとに | every 〜 (all included) | 1時間ごとに |
| time/quantity ＋ おきに | every other 〜 (with a gap) | 2日おきに |
| (contrast) 〜たびに | each time (when an event occurs) | 会うたびに |
💬 Example Sentences
- この薬は4時間おきに飲んでください。(Take this medicine every other 4 hours / at 4-hour intervals.) — おきに (interval)
- クラス全員、一人ごとに意見を言ってください。(Everyone in class, each person give an opinion.) — ごとに (each one)
- 2ページごとに、新しい漢字が出てきます。(A new kanji appears every 2 pages.) — ごとに
- この電車は2駅おきに特急が止まる。(The express stops every other 2 stations on this line.) — おきに (interval)
- 年齢を重ねるごとに、人は成長していく。(With each year of age, a person grows.) — ごとに (with each)
🔄 Compare: ごとに vs おきに vs たびに vs ずつ
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜ごとに | “every 〜, each one” (all included) | 1時間ごとに |
| 〜おきに | “every other 〜” (with a gap, skipping) | 2日おきに |
| 〜たびに | “each time 〜” (when an event occurs) | 会うたびに |
| 〜ずつ | “each, per” (equal distribution) | 一枚ずつ |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- ごとに vs おきに: ごとに = each one (all included); おきに = every other (with a gap, skipping) — with the same number, different nuance!
- 一日おきに ≠ 毎日: 一日おきに = every other day (once every two days); for every day use 「毎日」 (✗ 毎日おきに).
- Distinguish from たびに: ごとに = a regular interval/quantity; たびに = each time an event occurs (会うたびに).
- Attach to time/quantity: time/quantity ＋ ごとに/おきに.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
「ごとに」 = every 〜, each one (all included, none skipped: 1時間ごとに, 一人ごとに, ページごとに); 「おきに」 = every other 〜 (with a gap, skipping: 2日おきに, 5メートルおきに). ⚠️ The biggest trap: with the same number, ごとに (each unit consecutively) and おきに (with a gap) differ in nuance, frequency possibly differing by a factor of two. 「一日おきに」 = every other day (not every day). Distinguish from the each-time 「たびに」 and the equal-distribution 「ずつ」. A must at N4.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- N4 core: time/quantity ＋ ごとに = every 〜 (all included); ＋ おきに = every other 〜 (with a gap, skipping).
- Biggest trap: with the same number, ごとに (each unit) vs おきに (skipping a unit), frequency differs by a factor of two!
- Distinction: ごとに (each one) vs おきに (every other) vs たびに (each time an event occurs); 一日おきに ≠ 毎日.
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. 「この薬は4時間___飲んでください。」(take once every 4 hours → at 4-hour intervals)
(A) おきに (B) ごとに (C) たびに (D) まで
Q2. What does 「クラス全員、一人ごとに意見を言ってください」 mean?
(A) one person speaks every other person
(B) each person gives their opinion (every single unit)
(C) only one person speaks
(D) everyone speaks at once
Q3. What's the difference between 「1時間ごとに」 and 「1時間おきに」?
(A) identical
(B) ごとに = every 1 hour (each unit, consecutive); おきに = at 1-hour intervals (a 1h-on/1h-off pattern)
(C) ごとに is written; おきに is colloquial
(D) opposite meanings
Q4. What does 「2日おきに病院に行く」 mean?
(A) go once every 2 days
(B) go every other 2 days (go today → skip 2 days → go again)
(C) go twice in 2 days
(D) didn't go for 2 days
Q5. What's the difference between 「ごとに」 and 「たびに」?
(A) identical
(B) ごとに = a regular interval/quantity; たびに = each time an event occurs (irregular)
(C) ごとに is colloquial; たびに is written
(D) entirely different meanings
Answer Key
1. (A) おきに ── おきに = at intervals: 4時間おきに = every 4 hours (with the interval).
2. (B) ── 一人ごとに = each person, one by one (every single unit).
3. (B) ── ごとに = every 1 hour (each unit); おきに = at 1-hour intervals (a gap between).
4. (B) ── 2日おきに = every other 2 days (with a 2-day gap between visits).
5. (B) ── ごとに = a regular interval/quantity; たびに = each time an event happens (less regular).
〜ごとに vs 〜おきに: Connection Comparison
| Expression | Attaches to | Frequency meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 〜ごとに | time / quantity ＋ ごとに | every 〜 (all included) |
| 〜おきに | time / quantity ＋ おきに | every other 〜 (with an interval) |