毎回
maikai[ma̠ika̠i]
In Japanese, "every time" can be expressed as 毎回 (maikai) or いつも.
Meaning: at each occasion that (adv)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 毎回 | maikai | [ma̠ika̠i] (narrow) |
| いつも | itsumo | [it͡sɨmo̞] (narrow) |
Both terms refer to things happening repeatedly, but they function differently depending on whether you are counting discrete instances or describing a continuous habit.
Which one should you use?
Use 毎回 when you want to emphasize that something happens on every single discrete occasion or specific instance. In contrast, use いつも to describe a habitual state or something that is "always" the case, rather than focusing on counting specific occurrences.
How does it change in a sentence?
While "every time" often acts as a conjunction in English (such as in "every time I go"), 毎回 is a noun-based adverb in Japanese. It typically stands alone or is followed by a particle like に or は.
How do you pronounce it?
maikai
Did you know?
- Although いつも is used for 'every time', it can also be used to refer to a 'usual' physical place, such as いつもの店 for 'the usual shop'.
- The word いつも literally translates to 'even when', which gives the concept of 'always' a sense of 'even in every instance'.
- In casual speech, you might hear people use いつも to mean 'the usual', such as when ordering 'the usual' at a restaurant, which implies 'every time I am here'.
Examples in context
- 和食のお店に行くといつも箸を持ち帰ります。Every time I go to a Japanese restaurant, I bring the chopsticks home.This sentence shows how to use いつも to describe an action taken on every occasion.Tatoeba #11272370 by small_snow, translation #11272342 by Aphima
- 自分の部屋を離れる時はいつもドアの鍵を締めます。I lock my door every time I leave my room.This sentence uses いつも to describe a routine action.Tatoeba #9847372 by small_snow, translation #9845169 by CK
- 子供が泣いてるのを見ると、いつも切なくなるんだ。I get emotional every time I see a child cry.This sentence uses いつも to describe an emotional response to a recurring sight.Tatoeba #10014580 by small_snow, translation #9189273 by DJ_Saidez
- 毎回お会いすると、とてもうれしいです。Every time we meet, I am very happy.
- お世話になっております。毎度毎度ありがとうございます。Thank you very much for your continued support.
- コンサートに行くと、毎回毎回感動します。I'm always moved every time I go to a concert.
- 毎回遅れるのは良くないですよ。It's not good to be late every time.
- 友達とランチすると、毎回新しい料理を試します。Every time I have lunch with my friends, I try new dishes.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Himi and Kenta are talking about their commute to work.
- 陽葵 Himari健太さん、電車は毎回遅れていますか？Kenta-san, densha wa maikai okurete imasu ka?Kenta, is the train late every time?
- 健太 Kentaはい、月曜日の朝は毎回そうです。Hai, getsuyoubi no asa wa maikai sou desu.Yes, it's like that every time on Monday mornings.
- 陽葵 Himariそれは大変ですね。Sore wa taihen desu ne.That must be tough.
- 健太 Kentaもう慣れましたよ。Mou naremashita yo.I'm used to it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “every time” translations and entries 毎回, いつも, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries いつも, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
