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Structure
Number + Counter + おきに
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About おきに
While 置きに may appear to be an adverb, it is actually a combination of 置き, a suffix meaning 'opening', and the case marking particle に. 置きに (often without kanji) is an expression used to show that something happens 'every (A)', or 'at intervals of (A)'.
As おきに is technically a suffix, it will be attached to the end of numbers or counters that it is highlighting as being an 'opening'.
Discrete variables (things that are usually measured upon completion) - Only ごとに may be used to express 'every'. For example, a day, a week, or a month may easily be divided, but they are usually counted as whole units. Due to this, ごとに will mean 'every week', while おきに would actually mean 'every second week' (because there is an opening of one week).
As おきに is technically a suffix, it will be attached to the end of numbers or counters that it is highlighting as being an 'opening'.
- この薬は一日おきに飲んでください。Please drink this medicine every other day. (Every second day)
- 一か月おきに病院に来るように先生に言われました。I was told by the doctor to come to the hospital every other month. (Every second month)
- 二日おきに部屋の掃除をしないと気が落ち着かない。I can't relax if I don't clean my room every three days.
Caution
It is very common to get ごとに, and おきに mixed up. While ごとに has the literal meaning of 'every', おきに has the literal meaning of 'opening'. Due to this, おきに will not always mean 'every'. Let's look at some examples of when these two expressions are the same, and when they are not.Discrete variables (things that are usually measured upon completion) - Only ごとに may be used to express 'every'. For example, a day, a week, or a month may easily be divided, but they are usually counted as whole units. Due to this, ごとに will mean 'every week', while おきに would actually mean 'every second week' (because there is an opening of one week).
- 一日おきに目薬を差す。I use my eye drops every other day.
- 私は出かけるおきに、忘れ物をする。Every other time I go out, I forget something.
- 毎日2時間ごとに体を動かしている。I move my body every 2 hours, everyday.
- 毎日2時間おきに体を動かしている。I move my body every other 2 hours, everyday.
Fun Fact
This is a topic that native speakers frequently get wrong themselves, so don't worry if it is a bit tricky! If you are unsure about which one to use, think of 置きに as 'every other' for most purposes.Synonyms
Examples
1時間おきに温度を測ってください。
Please check the temperature every other hour.
At intervals of 1 hour. Interchangeable with 1時間ごとに.
1週間おきに、水槽の水を換えています。
We change the water of the fish tank every other week.
At intervals of 1 week event happens every other week. Not interchangeable with 1週間ごとに, but 2週間ごとに can be used.
30分おきに休憩しよう。
Let's take a break in intervals of 30 minutes.
金魚には餌を一日おきにやればいいらしい。
I've heard that you can feed goldfish every second day.
この地域はだいたい一軒おきに新聞をとっている。
In this area, every other house is subscribed to the newspaper.
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Detailed Explanation ごとに vs. おきに
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おきに – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (24 in total)
albcasahu
About 2 months ago
I have the exact same question. It also says that it is interchangeable with ごとに in this context, so I assume that it should be every hour instead. I keep getting this grammar point wrong and it’s driving me crazy
Inounx
About 2 months ago
Hi, my teacher (native japanese) told me that it is every hour, yes. Other native people also confirmed this. It is a translation mistake.
nekoyama
About 2 months ago
With おきに the meaning is always a bit unclear, and 1時間おきに is probably the most unclear case. For either interpretation, you can find native speakers who support it.
Related: ~おきに | ことば(放送用語) - 最近気になる放送用語 | NHK放送文化研究所
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