たびたび

た

び

た

び

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

adverb

often; frequently; repeatedly

usually written using kana alone

Describes an action or event that occurs many times, often with a nuance of recurrence or habitual repetition. Neutral register.

彼かれはたびたび遅ち刻こくする。
He is often late.
この地ち域いきではたびたび地じ震しんが起おこる。
Earthquakes occur frequently in this region.

See all 21 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

度々たびたび〈事こと〉が起こるがおこるfor something to happen repeatedly
この地ち域いきでは度たび々たび事じ故こが起おこる。
Accidents happen repeatedly in this area.
度々たびたび〈人ひと〉に連絡するにれんらくするto contact someone repeatedly
彼かれは度たび々たび彼かの女じょに連れん絡らくしている。
He keeps contacting her repeatedly.

Expressions

たびたびすみませんsorry to bother you again

Kanji

度degrees, occurrence, time

Related words· 15

しばしばN3
しばしば is a more formal or literary word for 'often', while 度々 is neutral and common in both speech and writing.
よくN5
よく is a general, everyday word for 'often', while 度々 emphasizes repeated occurrences and can sound slightly more formal.
時とき々どきN5
時々 means 'sometimes' and implies less frequency than 度々, which stresses repeated or frequent occurrence.
しばしばN2
しばしば and たびたび both mean 'often', but たびたび feels slightly more casual and often suggests repeated occurrences in a shorter span of time.

Show 11 more

しきりにN3
たびたび is a neutral way to say something happens often, while しきりに adds a sense of persistence or pressing repetition.
頻ひん繁ぱんN2
度々 highlights repeated occasions ('again and again'), whereas 頻繁 stresses how closely spaced or numerous the occurrences are.
再さい三さん再さい四しN1
度々 is a plain, everyday word for 'often/repeatedly', while 再三再四 is a stronger, more literary expression implying insistence.
しきりN2
度々 simply notes that something happens many times, whereas しきり emphasizes persistence or urgency behind the repetition.
しげしげN1
たびたび simply means 'often, repeatedly' for any action, whereas しげしげ is more narrowly used for habitual visiting or intent looking.
何なん回かいもN5
たびたび is a more formal or literary way to say 'frequently/repeatedly,' whereas 何回も is plain, everyday speech.
何なん度どもN2
度々 is a slightly more formal or written way to say 'often/repeatedly' compared to the more conversational 何度も.
再さい三さんN2
たびたび is a common, neutral word for 'often/frequently', whereas 再三 carries a stronger sense of persistence, often with a negative connotation.
ちょこちょこ
たびたび is a plain, neutral word for 'often' used in formal or written contexts, while ちょこちょこ in this sense feels more casual and conversational.
ちょくちょくN1
たびたび emphasizes repeated occurrences and can sound slightly formal or even mildly annoyed, while ちょくちょく is lighter and more casual.
しょっちゅうN2
たびたび is a slightly more formal or literary way to say 'often/repeatedly', while しょっちゅう is casual, spoken-style Japanese.

Opposites

滅めっ多たにN3
めったに (usually with a negative verb) means 'rarely', the opposite of 度々's sense of frequent repetition.

Don't confuse with

たびに
度に attaches to a verb or clause to mean 'every time X happens', whereas 度々 is a standalone adverb meaning 'often, repeatedly' with no preceding clause required.

Written forms

たびたびUsage70%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 度々 is also common but kana is preferred.
度たび々たびUsage30%
Common kanji spelling; widely used in formal and written contexts.
度たび度たびUsage<1%
Rare alternate kanji spelling; not recommended for learners.

Etymology

Reduplication of 度 (たび, 'time, occasion'), yielding an adverb meaning 'time after time'.