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:

私は毎日工作をしています。

Watashi wa mainichi kousaku wo shiteimasu

I work everyday.

I work every day.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 毎日 (mainichi) - means "every day" in Japanese
• 工作 (kousaku) - "work" in Japanese.
• を (wo) - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• しています (shiteimasu) - the polite form of the verb "suru" which means "to do" in Japanese, conjugated in the present continuous

私は毎日通りかかる公園が大好きです。

Watashi wa mainichi toorikakaru kouen ga daisuki desu

I love the park that I pass every day.

I love the parks that go every day.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun meaning "I".
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I".
• 毎日 - Japanese adverb meaning "every day".
• 通りかかる - Japanese verb meaning "to pass by".
• 公園 - Japanese noun meaning "park".
• が - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "park".
• 大好き - Japanese adjective meaning "much loved" or "adored."
• です - Japanese linking verb that indicates the formality of the sentence, in this case, "is".

私は毎月家賃を払い込む必要があります。

Watashi wa maitsuki yachin wo haraikomu hitsuyou ga arimasu

I need to pay rent every month.

I need to pay my rent every month.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 毎月 - Japanese adverb meaning "every month"
• 家賃 - Japanese noun that means "rent"
• を - direct object particle that indicates the object of the action, in this case "rent"
• 払い込む - Japanese verb that means "to pay (an amount) in advance"
• 必要 - Japanese adjective meaning "necessary"
• が - subject particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• あります - Japanese verb that means "to have," in the sense of "it is necessary to have."

私は毎日の出来事を日記に記す。

Watashi wa mainichi no dekigoto wo nikki ni shirusu

I record daily events in a diary.

I write my daily events in my diary.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates that the subject of the sentence is "I"
• 毎日 - noun that means "every day"
• の - possessive particle that indicates that "every day" belongs to "exit"
• 出来事 - noun that means "event" or "occurrence"
• を - object particle that indicates that "event" is the direct object of the action "to write"
• 日記 - noun meaning "diary"
• に - particle indicating that "diary" is the destination of the action "to write"
• 記す - verb that means "to write" or "to record"

私は毎日練習することで上達します。

Watashi wa mainichi renshuu suru koto de joutatsu shimasu

I improve by practicing every day.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 毎日 - Japanese adverb meaning "every day"
• 練習する - Japanese verb meaning "to practice"
• こと - A palavra japonesa que significa "coisa" é "もの" (mono).
• で - Japanese particle that indicates the means or method used to perform the action, in this case, "practice"
• 上達します - Japanese verb meaning "improve" or "progress"

私の手帳は毎日使います。

Watashi no techou wa mainichi tsukaimasu

I use my notebook daily.

I use my notebook every day.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle that indicates possession, equivalent to "de" in English
• 手帳 - noun that means "agenda" or "notebook" in Japanese
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, equivalent to "about" or "regarding" in Portuguese
• 毎日 - adverb that means "every day" in Japanese
• 使います - The verb that means "to use" in Japanese, conjugated in the present affirmative is "使います" (tsukaimasu).

私は毎日勤務しています。

Watashi wa mainichi kinmu shiteimasu

I work everyday.

I work every day.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 毎日 - adverb meaning "every day"
• 勤務 - noun that means "work" or "service"
• しています - verb "suru" in the present continuous, indicating an ongoing action

私は毎日励んでいます。

Watashi wa mainichi hageman de imasu

Eu me esforço todos os dias.

Eu trabalho duro todos os dias.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 毎日 - adverb meaning "every day"
• 励んでいます - verbo que significa "se esforçar" ou "trabalhar duro", conjugado no presente contínuo educado

私は毎晩祈ることが習慣になっています。

Watashi wa maiban inoru koto ga shūkan ni natte imasu

Rezar todas as noites se tornou um hábito para mim.

Eu oro todas as noites.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 毎晩 - adverb that means "every night"
• 祈る - verbo que significa "rezar" ou "orar"
• こと - noun that indicates an action or event
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 習慣 - noun meaning "habit" or "custom"
• に - partícula que indica a finalidade ou objetivo
• なっています - verbo na forma de presente progressivo que indica uma ação habitual ou costumeira

私は毎日歯を磨きます。

Watashi wa mainichi ha wo migakimasu

Eu escovo meus dentes todos os dias.

Eu escovo os meus dentes todos os dias.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 毎日 - adverb meaning "every day"
• 歯 - substantivo que significa "dente"
• を - partícula que indica o objeto direto da frase, neste caso "dente"
• 磨きます - verbo que significa "escovar"