N2 Basis, Topic, and Response

~につけ/~につけて: meaning, usage and examples

~につけ/~につけて means: whenever... / every time...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 桜さくらを見みるにつけ、故郷こきょうを思おもい出だす。

   Whenever I see cherry blossoms, I remember my hometown.

2. 良よきにつけ悪あしきにつけ、彼かれは話題わだいになる。

   For better or worse, he becomes a topic of conversation.

3. この曲きょくを聞きくにつけ、学生がくせい時代じだいを懐なつかしく思おもい出だす。

   Whenever I hear this song, I fondly remember my school days.

4. 母ははは何なにかにつけて、私わたしに電話でんわをかけてくる。

   My mother calls me at every opportunity.

When to use it

Means "whenever": each time the speaker sees, hears or thinks of something, a certain feeling or memory comes up. この写真しゃしんを見みるにつけ、祖父そふを思おもい出だす (whenever I see this photo, I think of my grandfather). AにつけBにつけ means "in both cases": 良よきにつけ悪あしきにつけ (for better or worse). 何なにかにつけて means "at every opportunity".

Nuance

Somewhat literary and formal. The verb before につけ is usually 見みる, 聞きく, 考かんがえる or 思おもう, and the second clause is an emotion or thought (思おもい出だす, 心配しんぱいになる, 感かんじる), not an action plan or request.

Compare

たびに is a neutral "every time" and allows any action or result: 出張しゅっちょうのたびにお土産みやげを買かう. につけ is limited to perception verbs followed by feelings: その話はなしを聞きくにつけ、悲かなしくなる. ごとに means "each" at regular intervals: 一いち時間じかんごとに薬くすりを飲のむ.

Tip: 見みる / 聞きく / 考かんがえる + につけ + a feeling. If the second clause is an action you do, use たびに.