それぞれEach, Respectively

Structure

それぞれ + Phrase
それぞれ + の + Noun

Details

About それぞれ

それぞれ is a noun in Japanese that is used similarly to 'each' in English. Like other nouns that can be used adverbially (ほとんど, 沢山(たくさん), and かなり for example), それぞれ regularly comes before a whole sentence, or before a specific noun preceded by の.

Fun Fact

それぞれ comes from the same kanji as 其(それ), the word used to highlight 'that' (close to the listener) in Japanese. Due to this, the literal meaning of それぞれ is 'that and that' (interpreted simply as 'everyone', or 'each).

Examples

--:--

それぞれ行(い)きたいところに行(い)きましょう。

Let's go to each of the places we want to go (respectively).

生(い)き物(もの)はそれぞれ食(た)べるものが違(ちが)う。

Living things each eat different things respectively.

それぞれ好(す)きな運動(うんどう)をした。

We each (respectively) did exercises that we like.

これからはそれぞれの道(みち)を行(い)くことに決(き)めた。

We decided that we will each (respectively) go our separate ways from now on.

人(ひと)それぞれ癖(くせ)というものがあります。

Each (respective) person has a habit.

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それぞれ – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (5 in total)

mrnoone

English translation:
each
respectively

Structure:
それぞれ(の) + Phrase

View on Bunpro
eefara
I had a quick question regarding one of the example sentences:

それぞれ好きな運動をした。- We each did our own (respective) exercises.

(I get to use the spiffy new “copy Japanese” button, heh.) Specifically, I’m just curious about the 好き there; it doesn’t seem to be represented specifically in the English, so I just wanted to confirm that it’s lending the thought that not only were they doing their own respective exercises, but they were doing separate ones because they enjoyed them. Just a small question!
Lozzinjer
I don’t quite understand the structure of this sentence.

人それぞれ 癖というものがあります
Each (respective) person has a habit.

I thought それぞれ would come before person. それぞれの人は癖というのがあります。If you could explain this to me, that would be great! Thank you!
matt_in_mito

Lozzinjer:

I thought それぞれ would come before person.

I actually thought so too until I read this, so I checked with a Japanese friend and she said it doesn’t look quite right, but you can say 癖は人それぞれです, which would also be natural.
Ambo100
I also thought it sounded strange but it does appear to be used quite naturally in Japanese as shown in these examples.

It also has its own definition at Jisho.org

Expression:
to each his own; people differ; different people (have different likes)
dokidokiwakuwaku
Would anyone happen to know the difference in usage between this point and べつべつ? Thank you!