Translation and Meaning of: 毎 - goto

The Japanese word 毎[ごと] is an essential term for those studying the language, but it also arouses curiosity due to its structure and specific uses. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, and practical applications in everyday Japanese. Furthermore, we will understand how it differs from other similar expressions and why it is so frequent in grammatical constructions. If you want to master this detail of the language, keep reading to discover everything about 毎[ごと].

Meaning and usage of 毎[ごと]

The term 毎[ごと] functions as a suffix that indicates repetition or periodicity, usually translated as "every" in English. It attaches to nouns to express that something occurs at regular intervals, as in 日ごと (every day) or 年ごと (every year). This construction is common in contexts that describe routines, natural cycles, or recurring events.

Unlike words like 毎に[ごとに], which also suggest frequency, 毎[ごと] carries a broader nuance. While 毎に may focus on specific moments, 毎[ごと] emphasizes the entirety of the interval. For example, 月ごと implies "every month, without exception," while 月毎に could be used to highlight particular occasions within that period.

Origin and structure of kanji

The kanji 毎 (mai) has ancient roots, originally representing the idea of "repetition" or "universality." Its upper component, 毋, suggests prohibition or limit, while the lower part 母 (mother) was incorporated phonetically. This combination created a character that evolved to convey the notion of "all" or "each," especially when used as a suffix.

It is worth noting that 毎[ごと] is not an isolated term. It is part of a family of words that share the same kanji, such as 毎日 (mainichi - every day) and 毎年 (maitoshi - every year). However, its reading as ごと is exclusive to contexts where it appears as a suffix, demonstrating how the Japanese language utilizes the same ideogram in multiple ways.

Tips for memorization and correct usage

An effective way to reinforce 毎[ごと] is to associate it with natural patterns or everyday activities. Think of phenomena that repeat, like the seasons of the year (季節ごと) or daily meals (食事ごと). This connection with familiar cycles helps to internalize its grammatical function intuitively.

Another useful aspect is to note that 毎[ごと] rarely appears alone. It is almost always connected to another noun, forming a unit of meaning. If you encounter this structure in texts or dialogues, remember that it marks a complete repetition, not a partial one. This detail makes a difference in the precise understanding of sentences in Japanese.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 日々 (hibi) - days, daily life
• いつも (itsumo) - always, habitual
• いつまでも (itsumade mo) - forever, eternally
• 常に (tsune ni) - constantly, always
• 絶えず (taezu) - without stopping, continuously
• 継続的に (keizokuteki ni) - continuously
• 連日 (renjitsu) - day after day
• 日常的に (nichijouteki ni) - habitually, daily
• 日ごとに (higoto ni) - daily, every day
• 日常 (nichijou) - daily life, daily routine
• 日々の (hibi no) - diary, everyday life
• 日常生活 (nichijou seikatsu) - daily life, everyday life
• 日常茶飯事 (nichijou chahanji) - common things in everyday life
• 日常業務 (nichijou gyoumu) - daily tasks
• 日々の暮らし (hibi no kurashi) - daily life, lived routine
• 日々の生活 (hibi no seikatsu) - daily life, daily routine
• 日々の仕事 (hibi no shigoto) - daily work
• 日々の習慣 (hibi no shuukan) - daily habits
• 日々の出来事 (hibi no dekigoto) - daily events
• 日々の積み重ね (hibi no tsumikasane) - daily accumulation
• 日々の成果 (hibi no seika) - daily results
• 日々の努力 (hibi no doryoku) - daily efforts
• 日々の改善 (hibi no kaizen) - daily improvements
• 日々の挑戦 (hibi no chousen) - daily challenges
• 日々の学び (hibi no manabi) - daily learnings
• 日々の精進 (hibi no shoujin) - constant daily effort
• 日々の鍛錬 (hibi no tanren) - daily training
• 日々の訓練 (hibi no kunren) - daily training

毎

Romaji: goto
Kana: ごと
Type: noun
L: -

Translation / Meaning: each respectively

Meaning in English: each respectively

Definition: The degree and frequency of this.

Example Sentences - (毎) goto

See below some example sentences:

私は毎朝公園で走る。

Watashi wa maiasa kōen de hashiru

I run every morning in the park.

I run in the park every morning.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 毎朝 (maiasa) - adverb meaning "every morning"
• 公園 (kouen) - noun that means "park"
• で (de) - particle indicating the place where the action takes place, in this case, "in the park"
• 走る (hashiru) - verb meaning "to run"

私は毎日飯を食べます。

Watashi wa mainichi meshi wo tabemasu

I like rice every day.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
• 飯 (meshi) - noun that means "food" or "meal"
• を (wo) - particle that marks the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "food"
• 食べます (tabemasu) - verb that means "to eat" in the affirmative present

私は毎日水筒を持っています。

Watashi wa mainichi suidō o motte imasu

I carry a water bottle every day.

I have a bottle of water every day.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
• 水筒 (suito) - The translation for "garrafa de água" is "water bottle".
• を (wo) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• 持っています (motteimasu) - verb that means "have" or "carry" in the affirmative present

私は毎日体を鍛える。

Watashi wa mainichi karada o kitaeru

I exercise my body every day.

I train my body every day.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
• 体 (karada) - noun meaning "body"
• を (wo) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• 鍛える (kitaeru) - verb meaning "to train" or "to exercise"

私は毎朝早く目覚めます。

Watashi wa maiasa hayaku mezameru masu

I wake up early every morning.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 毎朝 (maiasa) - adverb meaning "every morning"
• 早く (hayaku) - adverb meaning "early"
• 目覚めます (mezamemasu) - verb meaning "to wake up"

私は毎晩ビールを飲みます。

Watashi wa maiban biiru o nomimasu

I drink beer every night.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 毎晩 (maiban) - adverb that means "every night"
• ビール (biiru) - The noun that means "beer" is "cerveja".
• を (wo) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• 飲みます (nomimasu) - verb meaning "to drink"

私は毎日歩くことが好きです。

Watashi wa mainichi aruku koto ga suki desu

I like to walk every day.

I like to walk every day.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic marker in Japanese, indicating that the subject of the sentence is "I"
• 毎日 (mainichi) - means "every day" in Japanese
• 歩くこと (aruku koto) - means "to walk" in Japanese, with "koto" being a nominal suffix that turns the verb into a noun
• が (ga) - Subject particle in Japanese, indicating that "walk" is the subject of the sentence
• 好き (suki) - means "to like" in Japanese
• です (desu) - To be verb in Japanese, used to indicate the end of the sentence and politeness.

私は毎日通学しています。

Watashi wa mainichi tsuugaku shiteimasu

I go to school every day.

I go to school every day.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence
• 毎日 (mainichi) - means "every day" in Japanese
• 通学 (tsuugaku) - "学校に行く" em japonês.
• しています (shiteimasu) - The polite form of the verb "to do" in Japanese, indicating an ongoing action, is "しています" (shiteimasu).

私は毎日通勤しています。

Watashi wa mainichi tsūkin shiteimasu

I will work every day.

I travel every day.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence
• 毎日 (mainichi) - means "every day" in Japanese
• 通勤 (tsūkin) - means "go to work" in Japanese
• しています (shiteimasu) - polite form of the verb "to do" in Japanese, indicating a continuous action in the present tense

私は毎日学校に通っています。

Watashi wa mainichi gakkou ni kayotte imasu

I go to school every day.

I go to school every day.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
• 毎日 (mainichi) - means "every day" in Japanese
• 学校 (gakkou) - means "school" in Japanese
• に (ni) - destination particle in Japanese
• 通っています (kayotte imasu) - It means "I am going" or "I am attending" in Japanese.