“zutsu” Meaning & Usage — Each / Little by Little [JLPT N4]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

“One a day,” “getting better little by little” — equal distribution or gradual change, with examples. (JLPT N4)

「一枚ずつ配る」「少しずつ」 — 「〜ずつ」, “each” and “little by little”

「学生に一枚ずつプリントを渡す」 (hand each student one sheet), 「日本語が少しずつ上手になる」 (get better at Japanese little by little) — 「(quantity／少し) ＋ ずつ」 has two uses: ① equal distribution (each, per — the same amount per person/time); ② gradual (little by little, gradually). This guide covers 「ずつ」's two uses and attachment, and separates it from 「おきに (every other)」.

Core: equal distribution (each) or gradual (little by little)

「〜ずつ」 has two uses:

• ① Equal distribution (each, per): the same amount per person/time — 一枚ずつ (one each), 二個ずつ (two each).
• ② Gradual (little by little): 少しずつ (little by little), 10単語ずつ (10 words at a time).

Common thread: “in the same amount, repeatedly／distributed” (not all at once, but equal portions).

How to Connect

例句與情境

• 学生に一枚ずつプリントを渡した。(I handed each student one sheet.) — equal distribution
• 日本語が少しずつ上手になってきた。(My Japanese has gotten better little by little.) — gradual
• 毎日10単語ずつ覚える。(Memorize 10 words a day.) — equal (per time)
• みんなに二個ずつあげよう。(Let's give everyone two each.) — each
• 貯金を少しずつ増やしている。(I'm growing my savings little by little.) — gradual

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① No particle after 「ずつ」. 一枚ずつ渡す (✗ 一枚ずつに, ✗ 少しずつに). ずつ follows the quantity and attaches directly to the verb — no に/を after.

② 「ずつ (each)」 vs 「おきに (every other)」. ずつ = the same amount per unit (3日ずつ = 3 days each); おきに = every … apart (3日おきに = every 3 days apart = once every 4 days). おきに is “interval” — easily confused with ずつ.

③ 「少しずつ」 is super frequent. For “little by little, gradually” — 少しずつ覚える (memorize gradually), 少しずつ慣れる (get used to it gradually). For a “gradual, steady, unhurried” change, this word fits best.

🔄 Compare: ずつ／おきに／ごとに

💡 Quick takeaway

「ずつ」 has two uses: one is “equal distribution (each, per)” (一枚ずつ = one each, 10個ずつ = 10 at a time), the other “gradual (little by little)” (少しずつ = little by little). The core of both is “in the same amount, portion by portion, step by step.” The attachment is easy: quantity／少し ＋ ずつ, no particle after (✗ 少しずつに). The most useful, most frequent is 「少しずつ」 — for “unhurried, steady progress/change” (少しずつ上手になる = get better little by little), very warm. Don't confuse with 「おきに (every other)」: 3日ずつ (3 days each) ≠ 3日おきに (every 3 days apart). Learning a language is all 「少しずつ」 — steady wins.

❓ Questions you might have

Q: How do I tell 「ずつ」's two uses (each／little by little) apart?

By what precedes it. ① After a “quantity” = equal distribution “each, per”: 一枚ずつ (one each), 二個ずつ (two each), 10単語ずつ (10 per time) — “the same amount to/for each unit.” ② After 「少し」 = gradual “little by little”: 少しずつ (little by little), 少しずつ上手になる (gradually improve) — a “gradual, slow” change. Test: a specific number = distribution (each); 「少し」 = gradual (little by little). Both share a core: “in the same small amount, repeatedly/step by step.”

Q: How does 「ずつ」 differ from 「おきに」?

Totally different! 「ずつ」 = the same amount per unit (distribution or gradual): 3日ずつ休む (rest 3 days each), 一人一個ずつ (one each per person). 「おきに」 = every … apart (interval): 3日おきに (every 3 days apart = once every 4 days), 一週間おきに (every other week). 「おきに」 stresses “with … in between,” so 「1日おきに」 = skipping a day = once every 2 days. Don't confuse “every 3 days (3日ごとに/3日ずつ)” with “every 3 days apart (3日おきに)” — one word “apart” changes the count.

🖊️ Practice Quiz

Q1. 「クラスの人に一枚___プリントを配った。」(one each)

(A) ずつ　(B) だけ　(C) ほど　(D) しか

Q2. What does 「少しずつ」 mean?

(A) in large amounts

(B) little by little, gradually

(C) immediately

(D) not at all

Q3. What does 「毎日10単語ずつ覚える」 mean?

(A) memorize random words daily

(B) memorize 10 words each day (even, regular study)

(C) already memorized 10

(D) no need to memorize

Q4. In what situations is 「ずつ」 used?

(A) for a large batch all at once

(B) even distribution (… each) or gradual progress (little by little)

(C) sudden change

(D) negation

Q5. What does 「日本語が少しずつ上手になってきた」 mean?

(A) suddenly became great at Japanese

(B) Japanese is improving little by little (gradual change)

(C) Japanese got worse

(D) Japanese hasn't improved at all

Answer Key

1. (A) ずつ ── 一枚ずつ = one each (even distribution).

2. (B) ── 少しずつ = little by little, gradually.

3. (B) ── 10単語ずつ = 10 words each day (even, regular).

4. (B) ── ずつ = even distribution (… each) or gradual progress (little by little).

5. (B) ── 少しずつ上手になってきた = improving little by little (gradual change).

Attachment Reference