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:

私は毎朝シャワーを浴びます。

Watashi wa maiasa shawaa o abimasu

I take a shower every morning.

I take a shower every morning.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 毎朝 - adverb meaning "every morning"
• シャワー - noun meaning "shower"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 浴びます - Verb that means "to take a shower"

私は毎日料理を練ることが好きです。

Watashi wa mainichi ryōri o neru koto ga suki desu

Eu gosto de praticar culinária todos os dias.

Eu gosto de cozinhar todos os dias.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 毎日 - adverb meaning "every day"
• 料理 - noun that means "to cook" or "cuisine"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 練る - verbo que significa "treinar" ou "praticar"
• こと - noun meaning "thing" or "fact"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 好き - adjective meaning "to like" or "to appreciate"
• です - auxiliary verb that indicates the present tense and formality of the sentence

私は毎日弁当を持っています。

Watashi wa mainichi bentou wo motteimasu

I take a lunch box every day.

I lunch every day.

• 私 - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the theme of the sentence
• 毎日 - means "every day" in Japanese
• 弁当 - means "lunchbox" in Japanese
• を - object particle in Japanese, used to indicate the direct object of the sentence
• 持っています - means "I have" in Japanese, being that 持って (motte) means "to carry" or "to have in hands" and います (imasu) is the polite form of the verb "to be" or "to be".

私たちは毎日同じクラスで勉強しています。

Watashitachi wa mainichi onaji kurasu de benkyou shiteimasu

We study every day in the same class.

We study in the same class every day.

• 私たち - 私たち
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 毎日 - "todos os dias" in Japanese
• 同じ - "the same" in Japanese
• クラス - "class" in Japanese
• で - Location particle in Japanese
• 勉強 - study in Japanese
• しています - The polished form of the verb "fazer" in Japanese

私たちは毎日の活動を大切にしています。

Watashitachi wa mainichi no katsudō o taisetsu ni shiteimasu

We value our daily activities.

We value our daily activities.

• 私たちは - We
• 毎日の - Diário
• 活動を - Atividades
• 大切にしています - We value a lot

私たちは毎日登校します。

Watashitachi wa mainichi toukou shimasu

We go to school every day.

Let's go to school every day.

• 私たちは - We
• 毎日 - every day
• 登校します - let's go to school

私たちは毎日新鮮な野菜を採っています。

Watashitachi wa mainichi shinsen na yasai o toratte imasu

We reap fresh vegetables every day.

We chose fresh vegetables every day.

• 私たちは - We
• 毎日 - every day
• 新鮮な - Frescos
• 野菜を - Vegetais
• 採っています - Colhemos

私の目覚まし時計は毎日少しずつずれる。

Watashi no mezamashi tokei wa mainichi sukoshi zutsu zureru

My alarm clock is a little late every day.

My alarm clock changes gradually every day.

• 私の - "Meu" in Japanese
• 目覚まし時計 - "despertador" in Japanese.
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 毎日 - "todos os dias" in Japanese
• 少しずつ - "pouco a pouco" in Japanese
• ずれる - "deslocar-se" in Japanese

私の給与は毎月支払われます。

Watashi no kyuuyo wa maitsuki shiharawaremasu

Meu salário é pago todos os meses.

• 私の給与 - minha remuneração/salário
• は - partícula de tópico, indicando que o tema da frase é "minha remuneração"
• 毎月 - todo mês
• 支払われます - é paga

私の時間割は毎週月曜日から金曜日までです。

Watashi no jikanwari wa maishuu getsuyoubi kara kin'youbi made desu

My schedule is Monday through Friday every Monday.

• 私の時間割 - "My schedule" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 毎週 - "Every week" in Japanese
• 月曜日 - "Monday" in Japanese
• から - "From" in Japanese
• 金曜日 - "Friday" in Japanese
• まで - "Until" in Japanese
• です - polite way of "being" in Japanese