Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 4: 21/21

それぞれ

Each, Respectively

Structure

それぞれ + Phrase
それぞれ + の + Noun

Details

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  • 使用域

    一般

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.
  • 皆(みんな)それぞれ食(た)べたいものを頼(たの)んでね。
    Everyone, please (each) order something you want to eat.
  • それぞれ別(べつ)の行動(こうどう)をした。
    We each did our own separate things.
  • 人(ひと)それぞれの考(かんが)え方(かた)があるから、しょうがないよ。
    Each person has different ways of thinking, so there is nothing we can do.
  • それぞれのチームに別(わか)れてから開始(かいし)してください。
    Please start once you have divided yourselves into each separate team.
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)

  • matt_in_mito

    matt_in_mito

    About 3 years ago

    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

    Ambo100

    About 2 years ago

    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

    dokidokiwakuwaku

    About 4 months ago

    Would anyone happen to know the difference in usage between this point and べつべつ? Thank you!

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