Translation guide
Describes a sequence of events, actions, or items occurring in rapid succession, one by one, or continuously.
Express that multiple things or people happen or appear in quick sequence, one after another.
The most common and versatile way to say 'one after the other'. It emphasizes a continuous, rapid sequence.
Tourists got off the bus one after the other.
New shops are opening one after another.
Similar to 次々と, but slightly more formal or written. Often interchangeable.
Problems occurred one after another.
Emphasizes a continuous stream or influx, often used for people or things arriving in large numbers.
Participants gathered at the venue one after another.
Means 'in rapid succession' or 'one right after the other', often with a nuance of no pause in between.
He hit three home runs one after the other.
Formal, often used in news reports for events happening in succession, especially negative ones.
Accidents occurred one after another.
Describe two or more people or things doing something in turn, one after the other in a repeated cycle.
Emphasize that items or people are dealt with individually, in sequence, rather than all at once.
Literally 'one by one', used for objects or actions. Can be used with counters.
Let's solve the problems one after the other.
Specifically for people, 'one person at a time'.
The students came forward one after the other to present.
Means 'in order' or 'in turn', emphasizing a sequence.
Our names were called one after the other.
Express that something happens repeatedly or incessantly, one instance after another.
Describes something happening incessantly, without a break, often used for phone calls, visitors, etc.
The phone has been ringing one call after another today.
Literally 'without pause', more literary or formal.
Cars pass by one after the other without stopping.
次々と is the most general and neutral. 立て続けに emphasizes that there is almost no gap between events, often with a sense of intensity or pressure.
Questions came one after another.
Questions came in rapid succession, one right after the other.
Do not translate 'one after the other' word-for-word as 一つの後に他 (ひとつのあとにほか). This is unnatural. Use the adverbial expressions above.
The guests arrived one after the other.
She ate the cookies one after the other.
The two sang songs one after the other, taking turns.