年としを追おうごとに

Meanings

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.

年としを追おうごとに、彼かれの技ぎ術じゅつは向こう上じょうしている。
His skills are improving year after year.
年としを追おうごとに、この町まちの人じん口こうは減へっている。
The population of this town is decreasing with each passing year.

Kanji

年year, counter for years
追chase, drive away, follow
歳year-end, age, occasion
毎every

Related words

年ねん々ねん
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.
毎まい年とし
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.

Built from

年とし+追おう

Written forms

年としを追おうごとに
Standard kanji spelling.
歳としを追おうごとに
Alternative spelling using 歳, which emphasizes age rather than year.
年としを追おう毎ごとに
Variant using 毎に instead of ごとに; slightly more formal or literary.

Etymology

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.