ずつEach; at a time; little by little
ずつ shows that the same quantity is given to each person or group, or that an action or change proceeds in equal steps. Depending on the context, it corresponds to “each,” “at a time,” or “little by little.”
Equal sharing
The quantity before ずつ is repeated equally across recipients, groups, or occasions. The sentence must make that wider set clear: for example, who receives the items or when the action repeats.
参加者に資料を二枚ずつ配りました。
Two handouts were distributed to each participant.
AnalyzeEvery participant receives the same quantity: two handouts.
Equal-sized groups
六人ずつのグループに分かれてください。
Please split into groups of six.
AnalyzeHere the repeated quantity is the size of each group.
Step-by-step progress
The repeated units do not have to be shared among people. They can be objects handled in sequence, people acting in batches, or equal increments in a continuing change.
Actual allocation versus a per-unit figure
ずつ presents equal shares or repeated amounts within an action. By contrast, 当たり commonly gives a per-unit figure, including a calculated statistical average.
各世帯に水を二本ずつ配った。
Two bottles of water were distributed to each household.
AnalyzeThis describes an actual equal distribution.
この調査では、一世帯当たりの電力使用量を算出した。
This survey calculated electricity use per household.
AnalyzeThis is a calculated per-household figure; it does not describe equal shares being distributed.
More examples
子どもたちにりんごを一個ずつ渡した。
Each child was given one apple.
Analyze参加者は三人ずつ意見を発表した。
The participants presented their views three at a time.
Analyze毎週、五百円ずつ貯金している。
I save five hundred yen each week.
Analyze薬は朝と夜に一錠ずつ飲んでください。
Please take one tablet in the morning and one at night.
Analyze一ページずつ内容を確認しましょう。
Let’s check the content one page at a time.
Analyze水位は一時間に二センチずつ上がった。
The water level rose by two centimeters each hour.
Analyze生徒を四人ずつの班に分けた。
The students were divided into groups of four.
Analyze