year after year; with each passing year
Describes a gradual change or progression that occurs as years go by. Often used with verbs indicating increase, decrease, or change.
His skills are improving year after year.
The population of this town is decreasing with each passing year.
年々 is a more concise, adverbial expression meaning 'year by year' or 'annually', often used in formal or written contexts. 年を追うごとに emphasizes the gradual progression over years.
毎年 simply means 'every year' without the nuance of gradual change. 年を追うごとに implies a continuous change over time.
Standard kanji spelling.
Alternative spelling using 歳, which emphasizes age rather than year.
Variant using 毎に instead of ごとに; slightly more formal or literary.
A set phrase composed of 年 (year), を (object marker), 追う (to chase, to follow), and ごとに (each time). Literally 'each time one chases the years', it conveys the idea of something happening as years pass.