“〜goto ni vs 〜oki ni”: Every / Every Other [JLPT N4]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 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!).
「1時間ごとに」 vs 「1時間おきに」 — every hour vs every other hour
「薬を1時間ごとに飲む」 vs 「1時間おきに飲む」 — one is “every hour,” the other carries an “interval” feel; this is one of N4's most confusable time expressions. The core difference: ごとに = “every ~” (each one counts, using it as the unit); おきに = “every other ~／with a gap of ~” (leaving that amount in between). The classic case is 「1日おきに = every other day.」 This guide sorts them by “all included vs a gap between.”
Core: ごとに (each one) vs おきに (with a gap)
- ごとに = every ~ (as the unit, all included): 3時間ごとに薬を飲む = take it every 3 hours (3, 6, 9…); 一人ごとに確認する = check each person.
- おきに = every other ~／leaving that gap: 1日おきに病院に行く = go every other day (go today, skip tomorrow, go the day after); 5メートルおきに木がある = a tree every 5 meters.
Test: “each one counts” → ごとに; “a gap in between” → おきに.
How to Connect
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| quantity／time ＋ ごとに | every ~ (all included) | 3時間ごとに |
| noun ＋ ごとに | each ~ | 人ごとに |
| quantity／time ＋ おきに | every other ~ (a gap) | 1日おきに |
Example sentences
- この薬は4時間ごとに飲んでください。(Take this every 4 hours.) — every (all)
- オリンピックは4年ごとに開かれる。(The Olympics are held every 4 years.) — every
- 1日おきにジムに通っている。(I go to the gym every other day.) — with a gap
- 5メートルおきに木が植えてある。(Trees are planted every 5 meters.) — interval
- 会議は2週間ごとにあります。(Meetings are every two weeks.) — every
⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid
① ごとに (every) vs おきに (every other). 「2日ごとに」 = every 2 days (2, 4, 6…); 「2日おきに」 = leaving 2 days between (roughly every 3rd day). おきに “leaves a gap,” so the count differs.
② The most-tested: 「1日おきに」 = every other day. Do it today, skip tomorrow, do it the day after (≒ 2日ごとに). A favorite trap.
③ For “each” noun, use ごとに. 「クラスごとに」 (each class), 「人ごとに」 (each person) — おきに isn't used for “one by one” nouns (✗ 人おきに).
🔄 Compare: ごとに／おきに／たびに
| Form | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜ごとに | every ~ (all included) | 3時間ごとに |
| 〜おきに | every other ~ (a gap between) | 1日おきに |
| 〜たびに | every time (whenever an action) | 会うたびに |
💡 The key point in use
ごとに／おきに separate with one image: ごとに = each one counts (3時間ごと = 3, 6, 9…); おきに = a gap in between (1日おきに = do today, skip tomorrow, do the day after). Tests love “1日おきに = every other day” — lock that in. Also, for “each person / each class,” only ごとに works (人ごとに), not おきに. Time-based おきに is sometimes used like ごとに in speech, but for exams judge by “gap.”
❓ Common questions
Q: Is 「1日おきに」 every day or every other day?
Every other day: do it today, skip tomorrow, do it again the day after (≒ 2日ごとに). 「おきに」 = leaving that amount in between, so 「1日おきに」 = leaving one day. It's N4's most-tested trap — remember “おきに = skip/gap.”
Q: Are 「3時間ごとに」 and 「3時間おきに」 the same?
Strictly: 「3時間ごとに」 = every 3 hours (3, 6, 9…); 「3時間おきに」 = leaving a 3-hour gap. Time-based おきに is fuzzier, but the rule “ごとに = every, おきに = gap” holds. For precision and no misunderstanding, use ごとに.
🖊️ 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) |
Key Difference: Every vs Interval
- 3時間ごとに薬を飲む → take it at every 3-hour mark (0h, 3h, 6h, 9h…)
- 3時間おきに薬を飲む → take it with a 3-hour gap in between (after 3h, after 6h, after 9h…)
⚠️ The numeric interval looks the same, but ごとに stresses "each time, done," while おきに stresses "the gap in between." A classic JLPT trap: 一日ごとに vs 一日おきに.