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:

私は毎週新しい商品を仕入れます。

Watashi wa maishuu atarashii shouhin o shiirerimasu

I buy new products every week.

I buy new products every week.

• 私は - personal pronoun "I"
• 毎週 - adverb "weekly"
• 新しい - adjective "new"
• 商品を - noun "product" + particle "the" (direct object)
• 仕入れます - verb "comprar" (formal)

私は毎日新聞を講読しています。

Watashi wa mainichi shinbun o koudoku shiteimasu

I read the newspaper every day.

I am reading the newspaper every day.

• 私 - personal pronoun "I"
• は - Topic particle
• 毎日 - "every day"
• 新聞 - "jornal"
• を - direct object particle
• 講読 - "read aloud; read in public"
• しています - polite form of the verb "to do" in the present continuous

毎度ありがとうございます。

Maido arigatou gozaimasu

Thank you very much always.

Thank you every time.

• 毎度 - "always"
• ありがとうございます - "thank you very much"

私たちは毎年春に畑を耕します。

Watashitachi wa maitoshi haru ni hatake o tagayasu shimasu

Nós aramos o campo todos os anos na primavera.

Nós aramos os campos a cada primavera.

• 私たちは - Personal pronoun "we"
• 毎年 - advérbio de frequência "todos os anos"
• 春に - substantivo "primavera" + partícula de tempo "na primavera"
• 畑を - substantivo "campo" + partícula de objeto direto "o campo"
• 耕します - verbo "arar" conjugado no presente "aramos"

私は毎日祈りを唱えます。

Watashi wa mainichi inori o tonaemasu

Eu rezo todos os dias.

Eu oro todos os dias.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
• 祈り (inori) - substantivo que significa "oração"
• を (wo) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• 唱えます (tonaemasu) - verbo que significa "recitar" ou "entoar"

私は日本語を覚えるために毎日勉強しています。

Watashi wa nihongo o oboeru tame ni mainichi benkyou shiteimasu

I study Japanese every day to keep myself sharp.

I study every day to learn Japanese.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 日本語 (nihongo) - noun meaning "Japanese"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "japonês"
• 覚える (oboeru) - verb that means "to remember" or "to learn"
• ために (tameni) - expression meaning "for" or "in order to"
• 毎日 (mainichi) - noun that means "every day"
• 勉強しています (benkyou shiteimasu) - The expression that means "I am studying"

私は毎日会社の出入りをしています。

Watashi wa mainichi kaisha no deiri o shiteimasu

I walk in and out of the company every day.

I walk in and out of the company every day.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
• 会社 (kaisha) - noun meaning "company"
• の (no) - particle indicating ownership, in this case "of the company"
• 出入り (deiri) - noun meaning "in and out"
• を (wo) - particle indicating the direct object of the action, in this case "to do"
• しています (shiteimasu) - verb indicating continuous action in the present tense, in this case "I am doing"

私は毎日何を食べるか選ぶのが難しいです。

Watashi wa mainichi nani wo taberu ka erabu no ga muzukashii desu

It's hard to choose what to eat every day.

It's hard to choose what to eat every day.

• 私 (watashi) - I
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 毎日 (mainichi) - every day
• 何 (nani) - what
• を (wo) - Direct object particle
• 食べる (taberu) - Eat
• か (ka) - interrogative particle
• 選ぶ (erabu) - Choose
• のが (noga) - Nominal particle
• 難しい (muzukashii) - Difficult
• です (desu) - Ser/estar (polite form)

日用品は毎日必要なものです。

Nichiyōhin wa mainichi hitsuyōna mono desu

The daily needs are necessary things every day.

Daily needs are needed every day.

• 日用品 (にちようひん) - daily use items
• は - Topic particle
• 毎日 (まいにち) - every day
• 必要 (ひつよう) - necessary
• な - assignment particle
• もの - thing
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

この街は毎年夏祭りで賑わう。

Kono machi wa maitoshi natsu matsuri de nigiwau

This city gets excited every year with the summer festival.

This city is crowded every year in the summer festival.

• この街 - this city
• は - Topic particle
• 毎年 - Every year
• 夏祭り - summer festival
• で - Location particle
• 賑わう - be excited, busy