に (Frequency)
Times (In each time period), Every, Frequency of
Structure
Explanation
The case marking particle に can be used to express frequency. It allows a speaker to describe how often an action is performed within a certain period. In this grammar pattern, the time frame is marked by に, and is followed by the number of occurrences.
This usage of に is related to its fundamental meaning of indicating a target or destination, but in this case, the destination is a point or interval within time.
- 私は一年に三回家族と海外旅行をします。I travel abroad with my family three times a year.
- 彼女は一日に一回しかご飯を食べないので、とても痩せています。Since she only eats one meal a day, she is very thin.
Caution
This usage of に is different from how で is used with time. When で marks a time period, it indicates the total duration required to complete an action, rather than its frequency.
- 私は三時間でこの本を全部読みました。I read this entire book in three hours. (Natural Japanese, as it states the total time something took to finish)
Therefore, you can think of に as pinpointing recurring moments inside of a larger time frame when an action happens. In contrast, で specifies the entire block of time within which an action is brought to completion.
Examples
一か月に四、五回図書館へ行く。
I go to the library four or five times a month. (frequency)
週に一回は外食するようにしている。
I try to eat out once a week. (frequency)
このバスは十分に一本ぐらい来る。
This bus comes about once every ten minutes. (frequency)
うちの会社は一年に一回、社員旅行がある。
Our company has a company trip once a year. (Once each year) (Frequency)
彼は一日に三杯もコーヒーを飲む。
He drinks as many as three cups of coffee a day. (Three cups each day)
私たちは一週間に一度、ミーティングを開く。
We hold a meeting once every week. (Once per week)
このアパートの家賃は月に八万円です。
The rent for this apartment is 80,000 yen a month. (80,000 yen per month)
妹は一日に三十分ピアノを練習している。
My little sister practices piano for thirty minutes every day. (Thirty minutes each day)
忙しくても、一週間に一回は両親に電話するようにしている。
Even though I'm busy, I make it a point to call my parents once a week.
(once each week) (frequency)
この港からは一時間に一本フェリーが出ます。
From this port, a ferry departs once an hour. (One ferry each hour) (frequency)
この薬は一日に三回飲まなければなりません。
You must take this medicine three times a day. (Three times each day) (frequency)
美容院には月に一回ぐらい行きます。
I go to the hair salon about once a month. (Once each month) (frequency)
健康のために、一日に一万歩を目標に歩いている。
For my health, I am walking with a goal of 10,000 steps a day. (Each day)