ずつ | Grammar

Structure

[number + counter] + ずつ少し / ちょっと + ずつ

Description

ずつ goes straight after a number and counter and means "each" or "at a time": the same amount goes to every person, or comes round every time. Nothing goes between the counter and ずつ.

。

I gave the children three sweets each.

。

Please say your names one at a time.

。

I read three pages a day.

ずつ needs an amount. It does not go on an ordinary noun, and "each person" with no number is それぞれ.

× 学生ずつ → 学生一人ずつ

Little by little

With すこし少し or ちょっと, ずつ means "little by little": a change that happens gradually, or an amount you take a bit at a time.

。

My Japanese is getting better little by little.

。

I save a little every day.

Where it goes in the sentence

A number with ずつ usually comes after the noun and its particle, right before the verb, the way a plain number does. It can also go in front of the noun, joined by の.

。

Please take two apples each.

、。

Small changes add up to a big difference.

Examples

。

Please enter the room one person at a time.

。

I read three pages of a book every day.

。

I gave two apples to each of the children.

。

It's gradually getting warmer, isn't it?

。

Please take one tablet at a time.

。

Let's divide into teams of five each.

、。

Even a little bit at a time is fine, so you should study every day.

。

Let's check them one by one.

。

I collected 100 yen from each student.

。

My grandfather is slowly getting better.

。

Let's each have one slice of cake.

。

I've gradually gained confidence.

References

ずつわりでimabi.org
ずつBunpro