N3 Time, Sequences, and Change

~たびに: meaning, usage and examples

~たびに means: every time... / each time...

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

Examples

1. この歌うたを歌うたうたびに、母ははを思おもい出だす。

   Every time I sing this song, I'm reminded of my mother.

2. 彼かれは旅行りょこうのたびに、お土産みやげを買かってきてくれる。

   Every time he travels, he buys me a souvenir.

3. 祖母そぼは会あうたびに、お菓子かしをくれます。

   My grandmother gives me sweets every time I see her.

4. 引ひっ越こしのたびに、荷物にもつが増ふえていきます。

   I end up with more stuff every time I move.

When to use it

Use たびに to say "every time X happens, Y happens too." この写真しゃしんを見みるたびに、学生がくせい時代じだいを思おもい出だす means "Every time I see this photo, I remember my school days." It describes a repeated pattern where the second thing follows the first on each occasion, without exception.

Nuance

It often carries feeling: a memory, an emotion or a change that comes back each time. The second clause must be something that really happens repeatedly, not a single event. It sounds natural in both conversation and writing.

Compare

ときはいつも is a plain "whenever" for a fixed habit: 雨あめのときはいつもバスで行いく. たびに stresses that something comes up each and every time, often with emotion or change: 会あうたびに大おおきくなっている (he is bigger every time I see him). たびに is not used for a simple routine like 朝あさはいつもパンを食たべる.

Tip: Use the dictionary form, not the past: 行いくたびに, not 行いったたびに. With nouns, add の: 旅行りょこうのたびに.