JLPT N3 grammar
〜たびに — Meaning & Examples
Every time (without fail) that… — links a repeated event to a repeated reaction. 日本へ行くたびに新しいお店を見つける. Not for one-off events (that is とき).
〜たびに — Every Single Time
〜たびに = every time (without fail) that… — it ties one repeated event to a reaction or result that follows each time.
Formation: dictionary form + たびに ／ noun + の + たびに
日本へ行くたびに、新しいお店を見つける。
= Every time I go to Japan, I discover a new shop.
この写真を見るたびに、あの夏を思い出す。
= Every time I look at this photo, I remember that summer.
母は電話のたびに「ちゃんと食べてる？」と聞く。
= Every time she calls, my mother asks, "Are you eating properly?"
たびに vs とき:
会うとき、プレゼントを渡した。 = When we met, I gave (him) a present. (one occasion)
会うたびに、プレゼントを渡している。 = Every time we meet, I give (him) a present. (a repeated pattern)
Rule of thumb: たびに only works for things that happen again and again. You can't use it for a single, one-off event.
(たび can also be written 度: 会う度に. Both are common.) 🔁
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on 〜たびに. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 「日本へ行くたびに、新しいお店を見つける」 means?
- Every time I go to Japan, I discover a new shop
- I found a new shop once in Japan
- I will go to Japan to find a shop
- I never find new shops in Japan
Show answer
Answer: Every time I go to Japan, I discover a new shop
〜たびに = every time that… — a repeated event paired with a repeated result.
2. Which sentence describes a repeated pattern, not a single occasion?
- 友達に会ったとき、プレゼントを渡した
- 友達に会うたびに、プレゼントを渡している
- 友達に会ったら、プレゼントを渡す
- 友達に会う前に、プレゼントを買った
Show answer
Answer: 友達に会うたびに、プレゼントを渡している
たびに = every single time. とき can refer to one occasion; たびに cannot.
Practise 〜たびに in the free app
This point is part of the “🕐 Occasions and Moments — たびに・ついでに・最中・ようとする” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N3 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N3 grammar points
From the same lesson: 🕐 Occasions and Moments — たびに・ついでに・最中・ようとする
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜たびに mean?
Every time (without fail) that… — links a repeated event to a repeated reaction. 日本へ行くたびに新しいお店を見つける. Not for one-off events (that is とき).
Is 〜たびに on the JLPT N3 test?
〜たびに is taught in the JLPT N3 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “🕐 Occasions and Moments — たびに・ついでに・最中・ようとする”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜たびに?
Open the “🕐 Occasions and Moments — たびに・ついでに・最中・ようとする” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N3 mock exams, with no ads.